North Launceston’s Jacob Kerr makes stunning recovery from fractured skull

A Tasmanian footballer has returned to the playing field less than three months after fracturing his skull so badly he couldn’t walk. Here’s how he made his recovery.

North Launceston player Jacob Kerr with girlfriend Skyla Giles after his return from a fractured skull against Launceston on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

North Launceston’s Jacob Kerr literally couldn’t stand up.

After a sickening head clash against Deloraine on May 10, Kerr was unable to stay upright getting off the field, his sense of balance shot.

But after a grinding journey recovering from a fractured skull, the 23-year-old returned to the fold in Saturday’s win over Launceston.

“I stumbled off the ground with no balance on my left side,” Kerr said after the game.

“I got into the rooms and was pretty crook, spewing and nausea, so I went straight to hospital in an ambo.

“They did a CT scan which found the fracture. We were worried about a broken neck, but that came back clear.

“I had half a week in hospital, and another week-and-a-half where I couldn’t get out of bed.

“I just slowly got back to walking. Just getting back to walking was a big stage because I had a lot of swelling in my ear, had vertigo really bad and lost all my balance.”

North Launceston player Jacob Kerr as he recovered from a fractured skull in hospital. Picture: Supplied

Known for his combative style Kerr, also a line coach with the midfield, debuted a new accessory against the Blues.

He will wear headgear, for the near future at least, to give him confidence to charge into contests.

“It’s really hot to wear,” he said.

“I did a lot of my running with it on, just to get used to it because I knew I had to wear it. “I’ll wear it for the rest of the year to keep Mum happy, but probably longer.

“I did a bit of research into them, and the biggest thing they protect is fractured skulls. You’ve got to play the safe card sometimes.”

Kerr remained bedridden after being released from hospital, as being on his feet made him physically ill.

“I physically couldn’t get up, or I was going to be sick,” he said.

“I went for a run and was a bit dizzy, and thought I’d pull back for a while. It was playing the long game because it was around that six week period where we had the state games.

“I maybe rushed back to running too quick, so that set me back. I wasn’t back running until week seven or eight, then two or three weeks of running into contact before the game.”

Kerr said he was nervous in his return game, but felt taking on the NTFA Premier League’s next best team was the best option.

“I’m all good now and cleared for contact. It’s just about getting my legs under me and the touch back in my hands,” he said.

“It was good to get a game against Launnie, the first hit out at a good level.

“The first quarter I had some nerves and got hit a bit high, but knowing I could still take that and it wasn’t going to hurt me, I was right after that.

”Obviously I like to go about things with a bit of chirp, but I had to put the tongue away a bit earlier in the game and work my way into it.”

Kerr was one of a desperately unlucky handful who were left out of the Bombers’ grand final side against Lauderdale last year, when they capped an unbeaten swan song TSL campaign.

With a few guns currently out injured, making himself tough to drop will be the motivation for Kerr in the lead-in to finals.

“That’s my goal for the next couple of months, to get in and stay in.”