High school football player sustains ’tragic’ neck injury

Winnipeg’s football community is rallying around a high school football player who suffered a life-altering injury during a game. CTV’s Jeff Keele reports.

Winnipeg’s football community is rallying around a high school player who suffered a life-changing spinal injury last week.

Winnipeg High School Football League Commissioner Jeffrey Bannon said on Friday night, during a game between Sisler High School and Tec Voc at the Nomads field, a Grade 12 student from Sisler suffered a tragic neck injury.

The player, who CTV News is not naming, required emergency surgery.

“(He) is still in the hospital, in ICU and has begun breathing on his own,” Bannon said in a written statement. “We are waiting for the swelling to subside to find out the full extent of what his road to recovery in what capacity and what the future will hold for him and his family.”

A family member told CTV News the injury happened on the first play of the game during the kickoff. He called the injury a bad collision and a fluke play.

Bannon and others are encouraging people to donate to a GoFundMe page set up for the student and his family. It says the money raised will help pay for hospital parking, travel expenses, meals, and future rehabilitation and therapy.

“Every donation, prayer, and message of support means the world,” says the fundraising page.

As of Monday night, the fundraiser has nearly reached its goal of $26,000.