Jamaican international prop Keenan Ramsden is on the mend after being rushed to hospital following a sickening collision during a local rugby league match on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.
Ramsden, who plays for the Tugun Seahawks, went into seizures on the field after a tackle by former Gold Coast Titans prop Darius Farmer, who plays for Helensvale.
He was reportedly knocked unconscious for 20 minutes with on-site medics using a defibrillator in case the player went into cardiac arrest.
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The incident happened in the 10th minute of the match, which was eventually abandoned.
Tugun coach Will Johnstone said the injury was the “worst” he has ever seen on the football field.
“We’ve all played and been around footy for a long time but that was probably one of the scariest injuries that I’ve seen in my time playing footy,” he told News Corp.
“He was unconscious for a long, long period time — longer than I’ve ever seen.
“When someone is unconscious for that long, or seizing for that long, it was scary. Everyone who was there at the ground was very concerned.”
Ramsden was taken to hospital on Saturday night and underwent MRI scans, which cleared him of any major brain injury.
He was subsequently released from hospital, but will be monitored closely over the the coming days.
“He’s sore and sorry today. He’ll have a very nasty concussion,” Johnston said.
“We’re going to keep a close eye on him over the next 24 to 48 hours, but they’ve cleared him of any brain bleeds or serious damage.
“It’s great to hear that he’s OK.
“We were lucky that the first responders, Matt Chalmers our first aid officer and Krissy Huntington from Helensvale, who is a registered nurse at Gold Coast Uni Hospital, they were great with the way they managed and treated him.
“They got a defib (defibrillator) on him straight away and they looked after him. We were just lucky we had people there who are well-trained and have experience in that field. They were really quick thinking and managed the situation really well.”
While Ramsden has been cleared of any major damage, he will need to given the all clear before returning to training.
The popular player achieved a lifelong dream in October 2024 when he made his international debut for Jamaica.
Meanwhile, Farmer was placed on report for the big hit.
Johnstone said the 26-year-old, who played three seasons with the Titans between 2019 and 2021, deserves to be punished for the tackle.
“He made direct contact with his head,” he said.
“You’ve got to protect the players. It is a game and the wellbeing of our players is the most important thing.
“I saw it live and I’ve watched it back and I thought there was a lot of force and direct contact (to the head).
“The message from our team, and the staff and people involved at ground level is pretty clear about how we’re feeling about it. I’m sure it will be handled appropriately.”
Helensvale released a statement on Sunday, wishing Ramsden a speedy recovery.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with out fellow rugby league player, family and Tugun club following the recent medical situation. Wishing them strength, support and a full recovery,” they wrote on Facebook.
