Jess Koopman expected to make 'full recovery' according to his partner after suffering facial injuries in premiership celebration explosion

A Yarrawonga footballer is continuing to make good progress in his recovery from a fireworks explosion which left him with serious facial injuries. Here's the latest.

The partner of a country footballer, coached by Geelong legend Steve Johnson, has revealed he is track to make a full recovery after being seriously injured by an explosion during premiership celebrations last month.

Yarrawonga star Jess Koopman was taken to The Alfred Hospital last month after suffering serious facial injuries after an attempt to ignite fireworks went wrong and exploded near his face during premiership celebrations after the Pigeons defeated Albury in the Ovens and Murray league grand final.

Georgia Glass, Koopman's partner, provided an update on social media thanking everyone for their support.

She said Koopman was in an induced coma for six days and despite initially being in a critical condition, he is expected to make a full recovery.

He suffered burns, eye damage and fractures from the explosion.

"We are so thankful for the amazing doctors and specialist teams at The Alfred Hospital and also to Ambulance Victoria who acted quickly to stabilise Jess’ airway before he was airlifted to Melbourne," Glass said.

"Jess is healing everyday and had his final surgery on Monday (fingers crossed).

"His eyesight and burns are improving each day & doctors believe he should make a full recovery."

Glass added the focus now was on getting Koopman back to full health.

"We have specialist appointments in Melbourne over the next coming weeks where they will continue to monitor his eyes, facial burns and fractures," she said.

"We have a long road ahead but we’re past the worst and can not wait to be home back to normal life."

Glass said the support of the Yarrawonga community and her family and friends have helped both through the tough times.

"We are grateful for our community, family and friends who have rallied around us and especially Jess to help us navigate through the tough days," she said.

"A massive thank you to Yarrawonga Football Netball Club for initiating a fundraiser where an account was opened for Jess and his recovery and to Belle's Cafe Yarrawonga & the Yarrawonga Mulwala Lakers Cricket Club for also organising a fundraiser to support Jess, we honestly cannot thank you enough.

"To my beautiful friends and family who have checked in everyday, supported me financially and just given me someone to lean on, I cannot thank you enough."

If you want to help Koopman and his family, you can donate to the following account.

Account: Hargraves Trust

Account BSB: 063 537

Account Number: 1019 7147

Reference: JK (your surname)

The Yarrawonga Mulwala Lakers Cricket Club are also hosting a Jess Koopman Day this Saturday, October 14, for their first home game of the season.

Held at Victoria Park, from 1pm to 8pm, there will be auction items, raffles, a $2 sausage sizzle and drinks at bar prices. 

All proceeds will go to Koopman.

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A 45-year-old man has been charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury and possession of an explosive substance.

A 25-year-old man was also arrested and is helping police with their enquiries.

Emergency services were called to Dunlop Street in Yarrawonga at 11.15pm after Jess Koopman suffered serious facial injuries following an attempt to ignite fireworks during celebrations of the Pigeons premiership win in the Ovens and Murray league on Sunday against Albury.

The 27-year-old was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.

Police will allege the 45-year-old man supplied a commercial grade manufactured firework which injured Koopman.

The person, from Yarrawonga, was arrested after police searched his home on Wednesday.

He will now appear in Wangaratta Magistrates Court on December 4.

Jess Koopman, playing for Southern Districts in Darwin, has been seriously injured after premiership celebration with his current club Yarrawonga. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Yarrawonga Football Manager Leigh Ramsdale said he believed Koopman was in a critical condition when he was flown to Melbourne.

“It was critical when he was flown,” he said.

“He’s on a ventilator, they are worried about his airways, eyes and facial (injuries).

“It didn’t sound good last night and early this morning. “

In an update on Wednesday afternoon The Alfred Hospital said Koopman was still in a critical condition.

The small forward played a major part in the Pigeons win over Albury in the grand final on Sunday in the Ovens and Murray league.

Led by former three-time Geelong premiership player Steven Johnson the team won by four points to claim their first premiership since 2013.

Jess Koopman is one of Yarrawonga’s hottest talents.

He had the chance to kick the winning goal late in last year’s grand final against Wangaratta before playing in the Pigeons premiership on Sunday.

He played 13 games and kicked 11 goals this season.

He has been a Yarrawonga players since 2015 when he joined the club from Finley.

Koopman is also well regarded in Darwin where he has played senior football in the NTFL for Southern Districts Crocs where he kicked 45 goals from just 17 games in 2018-19.

“He’s one of our most loved players for many reasons, he’s a bit of a character and a typical cheeky small forward,” Ramsdale said.

“He’s been super loyal to the club, he’s had opportunities to go to multiple supporting club but stayed true and loyal to Yarrawonga.

“We love him as a bloke and he is a good character around the club.

“It is a sad circumstance.”

The club is gathering around his family to provide whatever support it needed.

“We’re just worried about the kid himself and his best health and there is a bit of uncertainty about where it lies,” Ramsdale said.

“We’ll do all we can to support him and his family.”

Southern Districts coach Shannon Rusca said he and the NTFL club were sending all their love and well wishes to Koopman.

“We send our full love to Jesse, and his family, and wish him a speedy and full recovery,” Rusca said.

“We don’t know the extent of the damages or the occasion of what happened but we know he’s in an induced coma.

“I’ve tried calling a couple of the boys to find out what’s happening, but we just send our well wishes to him, his family and his football club in this time.”

Originally published as Jess Koopman expected to make 'full recovery' according to his partner after suffering facial injuries in premiership celebration explosion