Brumbies lock Mackay hit by car in Durban

[lara93]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...29/2529222.htm
Brumbies lock Shawn Mackay is in a Durban hospital after being hit by a car following his side's Super 14 loss to the Sharks in South Africa.

It is understood Mackay, 26, was struck as he and several players were making their way back to their team hotel after they went out following the 35-14 loss on Saturday night.

The Brumbies said Mackay was nursing a broken leg and head injuries but is in a stable condition at Durban's St Augustine's Hospital.

"Shawn is a popular member of the playing group and obviously our thoughts are with him," Brumbies spokesman Nick Smith said.

"While we are still gathering details our primary concern is for Shawn's health and safety."

Mackay, who came off the bench in the loss to the Sharks, joined the Brumbies at the start of the season from the NSW Waratahs.

He has been a member of the Australian Sevens side since 2004 and also spent five years playing rugby league with the Sydney Roosters' junior side.

The Brumbies will remain in South Africa this week ahead of next weekend's match with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

---------- Post added at 20:45 ---------- Previous post was at 18:31 ----------

its a bit more serious then head injuries and a broken leg
hes in a coma..

[Burgs]

Brumbies lock Mackay hit by car in Durban

Mistook it for a Sharks Prop...

[lara93]

hope he gets better soon!

[GIGS20]

Mistook it for a Sharks Prop...

Relised his mistake when it didn't hurt as much and didn't steal the ball off him!

[Burgs]

...and his eyes went untouched

[zimeric]

apparently worse than first reported - He is in an induced coma due to swelling on the brain.... not really time for crass jokes i think

[Thequeerone]

Thank god the Brumbies Team are still in SA for him and his loved ones. Not the best day, did they get the driver ?

[lara93]

they went out with the sharks players that night so many of the sharks players who witnessed it and helped out have been with him since he has been in hospital

[mudskipper]

This is a shocking and very serious accident... Lets all hope for the best outcome for Shawn and his family...


Brumby remains in a coma
PETER FITZGERALD IN DURBAN
30/03/2009 9:38:00 AM

ACT Brumbies forward Shawn Mackay has a broken neck, a broken leg and multiple facial fractures after he was hit by a car in Durban yesterday.
Mr Mackay, 26, was in a critical but stable condition in St Augustine’s hospital following four hours of surgery.

He sustained a cervical spinal fracture and dislocation (broken neck), compound fractures to his left tibia and fibula (broken leg) and multiple facial fractures and lacerations as a result of the accident.

He will remain in a medically induced coma for the next 36 hours as he undergoes continued treatment.

Mr Mackay’s parents and partner Trish are on their way to South Africa to be by his bedside.

In what is believed to be an unrelated incident, several of the Brumbies players' rooms at the team hotel were robbed on the same night.

Laptops and mobile phones were stolen.

The security officers travelling with the Brumbies are viewing security footage from the team hotel in a bid to determine who was responsible.

Specific details of Mr Mackay’s incident remain unknown but it is understood he was crossing the road to get in a van with some of his teammates to return to the team hotel.

Several of the Brumbies had ventured out to a nightclub following their 35-14 Super 14 loss to the Sharks hours earlier.

The Canberra Times understands Sharks players Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis were at the venue at the time of the incident.

Jannie du Plessis is a doctor and it is understood he called an ambulance and was the first person to medically attend to Mr Mackay.

The incident occurred at 4.15am Durban time.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...a/1472971.aspx

---------- Post added at 08:31 ---------- Previous post was at 08:03 ----------

Brumbies forward Shawn Mackay in coma after surgery
March 30, 2009 Australian Associated Press

BRUMBIES forward Shawn Mackay is in a medically induced coma in a Durban hospital following surgery.

Mackay suffered spinal injuries and a broken leg as well as multiple facial fractures and lacerations after being hit by an armoured response vehicle while crossing a road.

The accident occurred at about 4am in Durban when Mackay and a number of other Brumbies players were returning to the team hotel following a night out after their Super 14 loss to the Sharks on Saturday night.

A Brumbies spokesman said police were investigating the incident but it is believed Mackay was not “skylarking” at the time.

Mackay, 26, suffered a cervical spinal fracture and dislocation in the accident.

He was in a critical but stable condition and was expected to remain in an induced coma as he undergoes further medical treatment.

Brumbies team doctor Warren McDonald, who was working with staff at Durban's St Augustine's Hospital, said Mackay was receiving around the clock intensive care and treatment.

“Shawn has sustained severe head and leg injuries but has received first-class medical treatment from the time of the accident,” McDonald said.

“He is currently in a critical condition but is stable and we won't know the full extent of his injuries until he is brought out of a coma in two days time.”

Brumbies management has been in contact with Mackay's family and partner and are arranging to fly them to Durban as soon as possible.

It is believed his parents will depart for South Africa on Monday to be with their son.

“We would request that people understand the sensitivity of the situation and ask that people please respect his and his family's privacy at this time,” McDonald said.

Brumbies media spokesman Nick Smith said the players were obviously in shock.

The team was set to go on safari tomorrow but have cancelled those plans and will stay in Durban.

Mackay, who came off the bench in the 35-14 loss to the Sharks, joined the Brumbies at the start of the season from the NSW Waratahs.

He has been a member of the Australian Sevens side since 2004 and also spent five years playing rugby league with the Sydney Roosters' junior side.

The Brumbies are scheduled to travel to Bloemfontein on Thursday ahead of this weekend's match with the Cheetahs.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

[force addict]

this is terrible news. i hope it wasn't an intentional hit by the car.
all the best to Shawn and his family for a speedy recovery!

[The Man]

if you pray , pray for him, if you don't try, he is in a bad way

[robyn <3]

That's awful

The driving is horrific over there, I hope he gets better soon.

[lara93]

i hope he gets better soon!
this is such a shock because the first news said he just had a broken leg and a few head injuries, but its much more serious!

[travelling_gerry]

Mackay in critical but stable condition
Monday, 30 March 2009
Brumbies Media Unit

Shawn Mackay (Photo: Steve Haag)

CA Brumbies lock Shawn Mackay is in a critical but stable condition after being hit by a vehicle in Durban on Sunday morning.

The accident occurred at approximately 4.15am when Mackay crossed the road and was struck by an armed security response vehicle. He was in the process of returning to the hotel via the team's security van.

It is understood the accident is being investigated by Durban police and that Mackay was not skylarking at the time.

Mackay has sustained cervical spinal fracture and dislocation, a compound fracture to his left leg, and has received multiple facial fractures and lacerations.

Mackay underwent surgery on Sunday morning and will remain in traction in a medically induced coma for the next 48 hours as he undergoes further medical treatment.

The CA Brumbies have been in contact with Mackay's family and will be flying them out to Durban as soon as possible.

"Shawn has sustained severe head and leg injuries but has received first-class medical treatment from the time of the accident and will receive ongoing treatment at St Augustine's Hospital," Team Doctor Warren McDonald said.

"He is currently in a critical condition but is stable and we won't know the full extent of his injuries until he is brought out of the coma in two days' time.

"He is receiving round-the-clock intensive care and treatment.

"We would request that people understand the sensitivity of this situation and ask that people please respect his and his family's privacy at this time."

http://www.brumbies.com.au/act.rugby/page/55667

[travelling_gerry]

Brumbies lock Shawn Mackay may be paralysed after being hit by car

March 30, 2009 There are fears ACT Brumbies forward Shawn Mackay could be left paralysed after he was struck by a car in Durban at the weekend.

South African police say the driver of the car, that belonged to an armed response security company, may be charged with reckless and negligent driving.

Mackay, 26, suffered a cervical spinal fracture and dislocation as well as a broken leg and multiple facial fractures and lacerations.

The incident occurred about 4.15am Durban time on Sunday when Mackay and a number of other Brumbies were leaving a club, having wound down after their Super 14 loss to the Sharks on Saturday night.

He was in a critical but stable condition and was expected to remain in a medically induced coma for treatment following surgery on Sunday.

Sharks team doctor Craig Springate said there was some concern about the possibility of paralysis, but that it was too early to tell.

"He has suffered multiple injuries and fractures which can be classified as serious," Springate said.

"There is some concern about paralysis, but we will only know when he recovers from the anaesthetic. The spinal cord is intact but there is some swelling."

Derrick Banks, a spokesman with South Africa's national emergency medical care network, said when paramedics arrived on the scene, they found Mackay lying on the side on the road.

"He had suffered massive injuries and had to have advanced life support intervention," Banks said.

Brumbies team doctor Warren McDonald, who was working with staff at Durban's St Augustine's Hospital, said Mackay was receiving around the clock intensive care and treatment.

"He is currently in a critical condition but is stable and we won't know the full extent of his injuries until he is brought out of a coma in two days time," McDonald said.

Mackay was crossing a road to get to a team security van for the trip back to the hotel when he was hit by the car.

The driver is understood to have initially left the scene before returning 10 minutes later.

Brumbies media spokesman Nick Smith said the players were obviously in shock.

They were set to go on safari but cancelled those plans to stay in Durban.

Brumbies management arranged for Mackay's family and partner to fly to Durban and his parents departed for South Africa on Monday.

Mackay, who came off the bench in the 35-14 loss to the Sharks, joined the Brumbies at the start of the season from the NSW Waratahs.

He has been a member of the Australian Sevens side since 2004 and also spent five years playing rugby league with Sydney Roosters juniors.

Waratahs and Wallabies star Lote Tuqiri, who played sevens with Mackay, said all of his former NSW teammates had been rocked by the news.

"You just hope he's in good health, really, and just feel for him and his family and what they're going through," he said.

"We talked about it today and all our thoughts are with him and his family at the moment, and the Brumbies as well.

"He skippered our sevens team and was a part of this squad for the last few years, so he was really amongst the boys and just a really good teammate."

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said Mackay's accident was a major downer for the entire Australian rugby fraternity.

"All the boys who play together for all the four (Super) teams know each other pretty well and it's not good news to hear this," he said.

"So we just hope that everything goes well for him in terms of his recovery."

The Brumbies are scheduled to travel to Bloemfontein on Thursday ahead of this weekend's match with the Cheetahs.



AAP

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html