A Welsh National League match had to be abandoned after a player sustained a serious injury before eventually being taken in an ambulance to hospital.
The Division Two East Central game between Cilfynydd and Treharris was called to a halt in the 77th minute with the visitors leading 32-23.
There were concerning scenes as home forward Owen Ratcliffe suffered an injury to the head/neck area.
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While waiting for paramedics to arrive, the No. 8 had to be immobilised on the pitch and placed on a spinal board before being ferried to a dressing room.
Cilfynydd had called for an ambulance at around 4.10pm on Saturday afternoon. But, say the club, no ambulance could reach their Welfare Ground base until 10pm because of apparent pressures on the service in the area.
In the meantime, a small team rallied around to ensure the injured player was looked after.
“The injury occurred three minutes from the end of the game. I phoned for an ambulance at ten past four. We finally got one to the ground at 10 o’clock,” said Cilfynydd fixture secretary Mark Jenkins.
“There was a long delay which we were told was due to the pressures on the ambulance service in the area.
“Apparently, it was just down to the availability of ambulances. It wasn’t the fault of the people who turned up. The paramedics were brilliant.”
Jenkins continued: “Owen was on the pitch for a couple of hours after sustaining the injury.
“We couldn’t move him until we had everything in place.
“Two of the boys are part-time fire fighters and managed to summon help from South Wales Fire and Rescue, who brought a spinal board with them, while Pontypridd RFC’s physios came over after the club’s game in Swansea. They supervised Owen onto the board to allow us to get him into the changing rooms before the temperature dropped and the weather turned.
“That was at 6pm. The temperature was dropping and the weather was looking a bit ropey in terms of rain. We needed to get Owen inside.
“We’d contacted Pontypridd and explained the situation to their physio team who were just leaving St Helen’s. In fairness to them, without us even asking, they said they would come straight to us.
“They stayed until 10 o’clock when the ambulance crew arrived. It was a very long day and stressful for everyone.
“But the South Wales fire brigade and the Ponty physio team were outstanding — total control, brilliant. They did us a big favour.
“Our own physio Jess Chick was excellent as well.
“She’s only been with us for two weeks and she did a really good job.
“When they arrived, the paramedics got Owen away as soon as they could. It was a long day for him, while his parents were there as well.”
Ratcliffe underwent a hospital scan and further checks before being released the following morning. “He was scanned at about 2.30am and let out three or four hours later after being cleared by the medical team. He had a full work over,” said Jenkins.
"He's under observation for the next three weeks to make sure he has no long-term injuries but he is suffering from significant pain and discomfort."
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