YOUNG DEVIL FEELS PAIN

Damen Francis

March 31 2014

Shepparton News

A young Ballarat soccer player will be out of action for the rest of the National Premier Leagues season after suffering a broken leg in Shepparton on Saturday.

Jake Francis, 16, was fouled by Goulburn Valley Suns defender Yassir Alghazaly 27 minutes into the NPL under-20 match at McEwen Reserve and was on the ground for more than two hours before being transported to hospital.

Three different ambulances were assigned to the job, but all were diverted elsewhere and until one arrived at 6.10 pm — an hour and 40 minutes after the initial call — Francis was without pain relief.

‘‘Sports trainers and those on the sidelines weren’t able to give him anything until we got there, at which point we administered a lot of pain relief to get him under control, prior to moving him and causing him more pain,’’ Mooroopna paramedic Chloe Bruce said.

‘‘We were on the scene for 40 minutes before we were actually able to move him off the ground, so essentially he was on the pitch for an hour and 50 minutes. At least for 40 minutes of that he had good pain relief.

‘‘It’s just disappointing it couldn’t have been handled better.’’

Francis was transferred to Goulburn Valley Base Hospital, where he spent the night, before returning to Ballarat yesterday.

Bruce said the player had a lower-leg fracture and would require surgery.

Suns board member Michael Crisera said while the tackle was ‘‘silly’’, there was no intention to hurt the opponent.

Ballarat Red Devils football manager Tony Spurgo, who did not see the incident, said he understood the challenge was from behind, but not malicious.