'At least my child is okay'

2008-04-20 23:26

Arisja Jacobs

Secunda - A young rugby player from Secunda who injured his neck last Wednesday during a practice match can move his legs again.

Frank Boucher, 19, a hooker for the Sasol Rugby Club, underwent an operation of more than five hours last week in Muelmed Medi-Clinic in Pretoria.

"His throat was very sore from the operation, but it's going extremely well," said his mother, Alma Boucher.

"Frank can move his arms and legs already and wiggle his toes and fingers," she said.

Alma and her husband, Douglas, were extremely relieved.

"Apparently we'll hear only in about a week what still needs to happen before Frank will be healed completely, but we are grateful and relieved that the operation was successful.

"And, he knew already he wouldn't be able to play rugby again," said Alma.

Injured three vertebrae

Douglas said: "We, as parents, are exhausted, but at least I now know my child is okay."

According to his parents, Frank had not been able to talk to them much yet as he had been in too much pain.

However, he already had been transferred from the ICU to the high-care unit.

Frank seriously injured three vertebrae when a set scrum caved in during the second half of a practice match.

The match had been against a combined team from the Sasol Rugby Club and an informal team of young apprentices from mines in the area.

- Beeld