Bloods footballer’s ongoing recovery from serious head and face injuries described as ‘incredible’

The West Adelaide footballer’s coach has shared an update after the young gun suffered horrific “life-altering injuries’’ in a fall through a roof at a Port Lincoln hotel last month.

West Adelaide footballer Sam May has been dubbed a ‘miracle man’ after making a remarkable recovery from serious injuries suffered in a fall at a Port Lincoln hotel last month.

Just five weeks after falling through the roof of the Pier Hotel in the early hours of the morning and suffering “life-altering injuries’’ following a SANFL game against Norwood on the Eyre Peninsula, May is back home after being released from the Repat Health Precinct at Daw Park.

The 24-year-old is said to be in good spirits and contacted Bloods coach Adam Hartlett last Friday 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 told The Advertiser.

“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.

Sam May in action for SANFL club West Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed

“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 and he reckons he’s going to come to the club and say g’day at some stage soon.’’

Hartlett said the entire club had been buoyed by May’s recovery while understanding that he still had a long way to go to regain full health.

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.’’

May was so badly injured in the off-field incident at Port Lincoln, where he was found several hours after his fall, that there were fears for his life.

West players were so upset that the club considered forfeiting its next game against South Adelaide before May’s condition improved.

Sam May in a West Adelaide team photograph. Picture: Supplied

Sam May is on the road to recovery after being seriously injured in an off-field incident at Port Lincoln. Picture: Supplied

At the time, an emotional Hartlett described his feelings as “a couple of the worst days of my life’’.

Now he said the players were using May’s fighting qualities as an inspiration for every game they play.

“He is such a strong and resilient young man, a fighter, and we talk about Sam before every game, about the importance of being courageous and the opportunity that we’ve got to put on the jumper each week when our mate’s unable to do it,’’ Hartlett said.

“I think it’s been really important to recognise that.’’

West, which has finished bottom of the SANFL ladder for the past five years, has shown strong improvement this season, currently sitting sixth with a 3-4 win-loss record.

Hartlett said he would love to get May back involved at the club in some capacity this season.

“Sam’s pretty keen to get back here,’’ he said.

“I think being in front of too many people is over stimulating for him at the moment but as he continues to chip away at his rehab and his recovery, and once time goes on, we’ll see what happens.’’