Central Coast rugby league community supporting James Cartaar after workplace accident

The Central Coast rugby league community has been rocked after a much-loved junior coach was placed in an induced coma following a terrible workplace accident.

The Central Coast rugby league community is rallying behind a beloved junior coach after a terrible workplace accident left him in an induced coma.

Last week James Cartaar, who owns his own Tuggerawong-based bricklaying business, was working on a job when an explosion at the site left him with serious injuries.

He was placed in an induced coma and airlifted to the Royal North Shore Hospital’s intensive care unit.

Cartaar, who coaches the Toukley Hawks under-7 Ikuvala team, has since been woken from the induced coma, with his recovery to continue in the burns unit.

“He wrote to us to say that he’s in good spirits, that he’s on the mend and that he’s got great support around,” said Jade Carberry, the secretary of Toukley juniors. “But he just wanted to make sure that his boys get out there on the park this weekend – they’ve been killing it this year.”

While the club has plans to hold a fundraiser for Cartaar and his young family, which includes his son who plays in the Toukley under-7s team, a Go Fund Me campaign has been set up in the interim to help provide some financial support while he continues his recovery.

“James is one of those guys who on game day events is there first thing in the morning, helps out on the field, helps out around the club – he’s just a real true-blue club person,” said Carberry.

“Obviously they’re a young family and we just want the local community to get behind him and support his family if they can during this horrible time.”

Donations can be made through the Go Fund Me page.