West Adelaide player Sam May returns to football club following horror fall through hotel roof
After suffering “life-altering” injuries when he fell through the roof of a Port Lincoln hotel, a West Adelaide player has returned to cheer on his teammates just six weeks later.
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The West Adelaide footballer dubbed a “miracle man” after surviving a fall through the roof of a Port Lincoln hotel has returned to his beloved footy club.
Sam May, 24, was at Richmond Oval on Saturday, sitting in the stands with his friends watching his team secure a win over the Adelaide Crows SANFL side on Saturday.
May told 7News he had no memory of the 24 hours leading up to the horror fall at the Pier Hotel in the early hours of May 21.
He said his recovery was nowhere near complete and as much he would prefer to be back on the field with his teammates, being back at the club was a massive step forward.
The footballer suffered “life-altering injuries’’ following a SANFL game against Norwood on the Eyre Peninsula and is now recovering at home after being released from the Repat Health Precinct at Daw Park.
Bloods coach Adam Hartlett recently told The Advertiser May had contacted him to say he would soon be back at the club.
Hartlett described May’s recovery from serious head and facial injuries, which had him flown from Port Lincoln to Royal Adelaide Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, as “incredible’’ and “amazing’’.
“I was sitting at home (on Friday) looking after my youngest daughter and I got a text from Sam at 9am,’’ Hartlett said.
“He’s like, ‘can I call you to have a chat’. I’m like, ‘mate, let’s talk’.
“We spoke for about 10 minutes and it was just incredible, incredible to hear his voice again.
“He wanted to wish the boys well for the game (Saturday’s clash against North Adelaide) and to say he’d appreciated all the support that myself, the club and the boys have shown him.
“It was amazing to hear from him.’’
Hartlett said the entire club had been buoyed by May’s recovery.
May is understood to be so upbeat that he has not ruled out playing football again, which just a few weeks ago seemed an impossibility.
“He actually mentioned that to me,’’ Hartlett said.
“He said he won’t play this year and I said I don’t care if you don’t play again, mate, as long as you are happy and healthy and there’s no long-lasting effects.’’
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