Max
09-28-2003, 09:30 AM
Wilson Magnet Football Player Seriously Injured During Game
Rochester, NY (09/28/03) - Anthony Salmon, a senior at Rochester's Wilson Magnet High School is in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital after he was injured during a football game versus McQuaid on Friday night.
The injury occurred during the second half of the game. Salmon, a defensive back for the Wilson Wildcats, attempted to tackle McQuaid's quarterback and never got up after the play.
Marcus Paulk, Wilson quarterback and a close friend of Salmon, described what he saw.
"The player's helmet hit the top of his chin, and it snapped his neck back and that broke his neck, and he was lying on the ground," he said.
Salmon underwent surgery at Strong.
Doctors are now assessing Salmon's condition. Attempts to contact doctors to find out the exact details of his injuries have not been successful.
Paulk said Salmon broke his neck, severed his spinal cord, and is now paralyzed.
"He doesn't deserve this. We didn't think anything like this could happen, and that it could happen to somebody on our team--our family--it hurts like it's family," he said.
The Rochester City School District said was an accident and there was no penalty on the play.
It was Anthony Salmon's first year on the football team.
As he looks through pictures of his best friend, Paulk has trouble holding back tears. He said the entire team has been crying over this; some are even scared to play.
"He was a good player, he was focused; he ran fast," Paulk said.
In the meantime, Marcus said he'll be there for his close friend and his family.
"I would do anything for him. He's just a nice person. He didn't do anything to deserve anything to happen to him," he said.
The Rochester City School District said grief counselors will be available to talk with students at the school on Monday.
http://www.wokr13.tv/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=D2B191C4-7EBA-4AF4-8161-19569BE555D9
Rochester, NY (09/28/03) - Anthony Salmon, a senior at Rochester's Wilson Magnet High School is in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital after he was injured during a football game versus McQuaid on Friday night.
The injury occurred during the second half of the game. Salmon, a defensive back for the Wilson Wildcats, attempted to tackle McQuaid's quarterback and never got up after the play.
Marcus Paulk, Wilson quarterback and a close friend of Salmon, described what he saw.
"The player's helmet hit the top of his chin, and it snapped his neck back and that broke his neck, and he was lying on the ground," he said.
Salmon underwent surgery at Strong.
Doctors are now assessing Salmon's condition. Attempts to contact doctors to find out the exact details of his injuries have not been successful.
Paulk said Salmon broke his neck, severed his spinal cord, and is now paralyzed.
"He doesn't deserve this. We didn't think anything like this could happen, and that it could happen to somebody on our team--our family--it hurts like it's family," he said.
The Rochester City School District said was an accident and there was no penalty on the play.
It was Anthony Salmon's first year on the football team.
As he looks through pictures of his best friend, Paulk has trouble holding back tears. He said the entire team has been crying over this; some are even scared to play.
"He was a good player, he was focused; he ran fast," Paulk said.
In the meantime, Marcus said he'll be there for his close friend and his family.
"I would do anything for him. He's just a nice person. He didn't do anything to deserve anything to happen to him," he said.
The Rochester City School District said grief counselors will be available to talk with students at the school on Monday.
http://www.wokr13.tv/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=D2B191C4-7EBA-4AF4-8161-19569BE555D9