Ice hockey player has neck broken in Australia

An  ice hockey player is in hospital after having his neck broken in a club grand final in Perth, Australia
Mark Korell, a father of two young children, was injured with just four seconds remaining in the match, with the effects of the injury still emerging. The injury occurred after a heavy collision in the open-age Senior Division grand final between local clubs the Northern Vikings and the West Coast Patriots at Mirrabooka's Xtreme Ice Arena.

It is understood that Korell fractured the C5 vertebrae in his neck. Onlookers have said Korell was chasing a puck into a corner of the rink, when he was hit hard by a Vikings player.

The division is a a non-checking, or no purposeful contact, league.

The offending player was ejected from the game and, despite there being time remaining on the clock, the match was called off as Korell remained motionless on the ice. He was later taken off the ice on a stretcher and into a waiting ambulance.

 

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