Teenage footballer paralysed after breaking his neck during a match
Declan McDonald was playing for Lanarkshire team AC Rovers
A teenage footballer from Lanarkshire has been left paralysed from the shoulders down in an accident during a match at the weekend.
16-year-old Declan McDonald broke his neck in a collision while playing for AC Rovers against EK Burgh on Saturday.
The Airdrie and Coatbridge team say they’re “devastated” about the injury.
Declan has undergone a 10-hour operation at the QEUH in Glasgow and the club say it’s now a “waiting game” for his family.
A statement posted on the team’s Facebook page said: "Declan has suffered a broken neck and has no sensation from the shoulders down since the incident.
"He’s 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."
"We will post more information as it is available but the club asks if you can keep Declan in your thoughts and prayers over the coming weeks and months as he continues his rehabilitation.
"Thanks to everyone who has reached out so far from all the family, his coaches and his teammates who are rightly shattered by this situation."
On X, a second statement said: "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."
Declan plays for the 2007 age group of the club.
A fundraiser set up by his teammates for the family has raised more than £33,000 as of breakfast time on Thursday, with the donors including several local football clubs.