YOUNG Nowra Blues AFL star Jordan Pearson is in Wollongong Hospital following a serious injury during the Blues’ match against the Albatross Demons at West Street Oval on Saturday afternoon.
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Nowra Blues club president Sharon Balazic was at the game, and while she did not see the accident, rushed to Jordan’s side in the moments afterwards.
“From what I’ve been told, Jordan had his head over the ball and copped an opposing players’ hip to his head,” she said.
“Obviously he went down. It took me a minute to get to him. There was an Albatross runner with him holding his neck, he was talking and he was very scared.
“We reassured him, called an ambulance and waited until it got there.”
Ms Balazic said paramedics were concerned Jordan had injured his neck.
The 21-year-old was transferred to Shoalhaven Hospital for tests, where medical staff are trying to determine the extent of his injuries.
“He was complaining of pins and needles and had feeling in his feet,” Ms Balazic said.
“I spoke to his mum last night and he was being taken to Wollongong Hospital where a neurosurgeon was going to run some tests.”
Ms Balazic said Jordan was like one of her own children.
“Most of the boys are – he’s like a son. He means a lot to the club,” she said.
“He’s our assistant coach and one of our top players. The boys look to him for inspiration.
“I wasn’t there for the third quarter, because I went to the hospital with him, but apparently the boys had their heads down.
“But they did rally in the fourth and won the game.”
Despite one of their best players being absent, the Blues went on to win the match 139-10.
“Later that evening Jordan rang to talk to us and the boys sang the club song. That boosted both sides,” Ms Balazic said.
Friends and teammates wished Mr Pearson a speedy recovery on his Facebook page, with Blues teammate Dylan Nelson describing him as an “inspiration to us all”.
