Footballer, 16, left paralysed after collision during match
- Published
Declan McDonald, 16, broke his neck during a match on Saturday
A 16-year-old footballer has been left paralysed from the shoulders down after a collision during a match.
AC Rovers player Declan McDonald broke his neck during a game against EK Burgh on Saturday.
The teenager, who plays for the Airdrie and Coatbridge team, was taken to hospital and has since underdone a 10-hour operation.
A statement on social media said his teammates were "devastated" following the incident.
The post shared by AC Rovers FC on Facebook, external said: "Declan has suffered a broken neck and has no sensation from the shoulders down since the incident.
"This morning he has been through a 10 hour surgery on his neck and now as you will understand it is a waiting game, the current prognosis is Declan is highly unlikely to ever be able to walk again, hopefully with rehab and physio he will regain some feeling/use of his arms and hands."
The statement concluded that his family, coaches and teammates had been left "shattered".
On X, formerly known as Twitter, a second statement said, external: "As both Declan's stepdad and the coach of the team I would like to thank the boys/parents of the team and everyone involved at EK Burgh for helping as best they could on the day."
The teenager plays for the 2007 age group of the North Lanarkshire football club.
A fundraiser, external set up by his teammates raised more than £20,000 in 24 hours.
The donors include a number of local football teams.