Queensland player James Ackerman’s head injury similar to one seen in car crash victims

A RUGBY league player collided with an NRL-contracted prop so forcefully he suffered a brain bleed as lawyer says he’s “never seen grown men so badly affected.”

James Ackerman, suffered a fatal head injury, after a tackle. Picture: Facebook

A QUEENSLAND rugby league player collided with NRL-contracted prop Francis Molo so forcefully he suffered a brain bleed similar to an injury sustained in a car crash.

James Ackerman was struck by an illegal shoulder charge during a 2015 Queensland Cup rugby league match and died in hospital two days later.

An inquest today heard the 25-year-old forward was tackled with such force his brain hit the side of his skull, tearing a major artery.

Mr Ackerman was running at the North Devils’ defence after a kick-off when Mr Molo struck him with his shoulder.

An inquest into James Ackerman’s death opened today. Picture: Facebook

He died in hospital two days later as a result of the torn artery.

Forensic pathologist Rohan Samarasinghe told the Brisbane Coroners Court on Tuesday he had only seen Mr Ackerman’s brain injury two other times during his 20 year career, both in car crash victims.

Dr Samarasinghe said the tear to the internal carotid artery was most likely caused by a direct hit but could have also resulted from indirect trauma like whiplash.

The court heard Mr Ackerman had bruising to his chest but Dr Samarasinghe said force to a person’s trunk did not usually cause such a severe brain injury. There were no notable injuries to Mr Ackerman’s head or face other than a bruise to his right temple.

James Ackerman died in hospital two days after he was injured.

James Ackerman’s funeral at Sunshine Coast Stadium. Picture: Megan Slade

Sideline doctor Christian Ibraheem testified he saw Mr Ackerman’s head move in a whiplash motion from the tackle but was too far away to determine the point of contact.

Dr Ibraheem said he immediately knew Mr Ackerman had suffered some degree of head injury just from his “gurgling” breathing.

“It could have happened in a car accident,” Dr Ibraheem said.

Three of Mr Ackerman’s teammates told the court on Monday that they saw Mr Molo hit Mr Ackerman “square in the chin” with a shoulder charge. Ryan Hansen said he then saw Mr Molo shove and knee Mr Ackerman as he lay injured on the ground to celebrate his tackle.

“Something like that never leaves you,” Mr Hansen said.

Mr Molo, who is contracted to NRL club Brisbane Broncos, received an eight-game suspension in July 2015 after being found guilty by the Queensland Rugby League judiciary of using the illegal tackle.

The court heard in July 2016 Mr Molo was penalised for striking two players with a shoulder charge in another match between Sunshine Coast and Norths at the same ground where Mr Ackerman fell.

After the second charge the two players punched Mr Molo, resulting in a two-game suspension for both of them

Touch judge Stephen Kanowski was on the sideline about 20m from Mr Ackerman when the Sunshine Coast Falcons’ forward charged “very hard and with vigour” at the defensive line, he earlier told the inquest.

Fellow players also spoke of their guilt at not being able to save him.

One player, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he questioned the referee as to why the illegal manoeuvre was not penalised but nothing happened. Minutes later Mr Ackerman was struck “square in the chin” by Mr Molo’s right shoulder.

“It goes through my head on a daily basis that I could have done more ... to stop that in its tracks right there so that a set later there’s not a tackle that killed my mate,” the player said.

Player Jacob Samoa said he knew the second shoulder charge was particularly bad because Mr Ackerman didn’t get back up.

“No one goes in with the intent to kill someone but it’s just an incident that just went wrong,” Mr Samoa said.

Former player Ryan Hansen said he saw Mr Molo pick up the badly injured Mr Ackerman by his jersey collar and give him a shove before kneeing him to celebrate the tackle.

“Something like that never leaves you,” Mr Hansen said.

However, touch judge Stephen Kanowski who was about 20m away on the sideline said he only saw Mr Molo “deliberately shove” Mr Ackerman in the chest as he lay on the field.

Outside court, Mr Ackerman’s family lawyer said: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen grown men as affected as they have been by this whole event.”

Mr Molo is due to testify at the inquest on Wednesday morning.