APS football: Haileybury College player knocked out in ‘freak accident’

A Haileybury College player was concussed after being tackled and striking his head on a trailer attached to a golf buggy.

A Haileybury College player was knocked out in a “freak’’ incident involing a golf buggy. File image

A young footballer was knocked out in a “freak’’ accident at a school match at Wesley College in Melbourne on Saturday morning.

The Haileybury College player’s head struck a small trailer attached to a golf buggy over the boundary line.

Play was held up as he was cared for by officials and then taken to the nearby Alfred hospital.

Witnesses at the APS 10A match said the 16-year-old Haileybury College player was “out cold’’.

The buggy is used by Wesley sports staff to ferry equipment to the sports fields at the school.

One spectator said the driver saw the ball coming and stopped about 2m from the boundary line.

“The Haileybury boy was running very fast towards the ball, which was sort of trickling towards the boundary line,’’ the spectator told Leader.

“He had a Wesley kid right on his tail. The Haileybury boy picked the ball up, the Wesley kid tackled him and the momentum and weight took him over the boundary line and as he hit the ground his head hit the trailer part of the buggy.

“He was out cold, straight away.’’

Two onlookers quickly removed his mouth guard and placed the player on his side.

He regained consciousness after about 20 seconds, the spectator said.

“It was quite scary, because he hit it hard, but thankfully he came to,’’ he said.

A Haileybury College spokesman said the boy had undergone scans at hospital and was OK.

He said the school was relieved the player had not been more seriously injured.

“It’s fortunate that he only sustained concussion and there are no lingering symptoms or head fractures,’’ he said.

He said it appeared to be a “freak accident’’.