Geelong Advertiser |
SOUTH Barwon footballer Casey Tutungi remains in an induced coma with severe damage to his spinal cord after a horrific on-field incident.
The Swans' co-coach, who is a former Geelong VFL-listed player, was flown to the Austin Hospital in Melbourne on Saturday night in a serious condition after running head first into his St Joseph's opponent in the late stages of the game at McDonalds Reserve.
He was updated to a stable condition today, with the hospital not confirming when he would be brought out of his induced coma.
His parents Tull and Carol and fiance Bridget, who were by his side in Melbourne today, also confirmed damage to Tutungi's 4th and 5th vertebrae.
''He was operated on at the Austin Hospital and the spine has been stabilised,'' the family said in a statement.
''The real damage is to the spinal cord and its functions which control his body movements.
``He is in ICU and as his health progresses we will know more over the next week about how his body will recover.
``Casey is a physically and mentally strong person but needs all the love and support you can give him in the future.''
Tutungi, 27, had picked up the ball and ran head first into the stomach of a St Joseph's player, and immediately ``flopped'' back onto the ground.
``He started yelling out `I can't move, I can't feel anything'.
There was no feeling, no pain,'' South Barwon football manager Bill McCann said.
``From where I stood, it was a pure accident. He had the ball and had just picked it up and he has lifted his head and headbutted the bloke's belly button and didn't move from then on.
``There was certainly no angst from any of the players, he actually got a free kick paid against him for dropping the ball.''
Tutungi never lost consciousness, and team-mates immediately started screaming for a stretcher.
His fiance Bridget, who is pregnant with their first child, and his father ran out on to the field to be with him.
He was treated by trainers from both clubs and also St Joseph's club doctor, Dr Joe Virgona before paramedics arrived shortly after.
The game, which had about six minutes left to play, was called off, with South Barwon winning 11.14 (80) to 6.12 (48).
Tutungi was taken via ambulance to Geelong Hospital before being flown to the Austin Hospital.
Distraught Swans' players gathered at the club yesterday morning to be briefed on their ``much-loved'' team-mate's condition.
``Obviously it's a very tough time for everyone,'' McCann said.
``He is certainly held in very high esteem.''
St Joseph's coach Heath Jamieson said his club's thoughts were with Tutungi and his family.
``It's just one of those things that happens 50 times on a Saturday, so he's been super unlucky,'' Jamieson said.
``I've been involved with a similar incident at Clarence (in Tasmania) where a team-mate of mine went down and ended up in a wheelchair for life. We all hope that is not the case here, that's for sure, but I do understand what his team-mates would be feeling right now.
``It had been a great game up until that point, the crowd was really involved in the game, and then the sombre feeling just came over the place. It was shocking.''
Geelong footballers, including Cats skipper Joel Selwood and young star Allen Christensen, took to Twitter to offer their support.
``Sending best wishes to Casey Tutungi from everyone at the Cats!'' Selwood wrote, while Christensen tweeted: ``Thoughts and prayers go out to casey tutungi #spirit''
Others to hit Twitter included the mayor Keith Fagg, members of the St Joseph's football club and the Geelong VFL team, while Tutungi's Facebook site was flooded with messages of support.
McCann was also full of praise for St Joseph's on the day.
``They were magnificent in their support. Dr Joe was able to give an onground assessment of what to do and the ambulance drivers were great, too. We're very thankful to them all.''
Tutungi, a former Lorne star who has also played for the Casey Scorpions during his decorated career, was part of the GFL's interleague team which won the Victorian Country championship title over Goulburn Valley at Simonds Stadium last month.
