A promising young footballer from the NSW South Coast has been airlifted to hospital after suffering a horror spinal injury during a rugby league match over the weekend.
Corrimal Cougars player Malaki Moreton was rushed to North Ryde Hospital before later being moved to a spinal unit at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney following the incident.
Moreton, an Indigenous man and teaching student at the University of Wollongong, has since undergone surgery.
His community on the South Coast is rallying to help with costs, setting up a GoFundMe that has been shared by Parramatta Eels star Josh Addo-Carr.
‘Malakai’s family have uprooted their lives to be there for Mal, which unfortunately comes at a financial cost,’ the page reads.
‘Mals recovery is unknown and has now been transferred to North Shore spinal unit in Sydney.’
Malaki Moreton (pictured) was airlifted to hospital after suffering a spinal injury during a footy match on the NSW south coast
Moreton has since undergone surgery and is recovering in hospital while a GoFundMe (pictured) has been set up for him
The page, which at the time of writing has raised more than $21,000, has been shared widely in the footy community.
The Cougars sent their support to the young player in a statement on social media.
‘All of the Cougars family are behind you and your family,’ the statement reads.
‘Get well soon mate!’
Moreton’s former footy club, the Moruya Sharks, have also sent their regards and encouraged members to get behind the GoFundMe campaign.
‘We would like to wish our former player Malaki a speedy recovery,’ the club wrote on social media.
‘Please share and donate if you can, every little bit helps.’