One of the region’s brightest young rugby league prospects, Lui Polimeni of Jugiong, took a turn for the worse on Sunday.
Playing for the Gundagai Tigers Group Nine under 16 team against Tumut Blues at Anzac Park Gundagai, the youngster suffered a concussion injury following a tackle.
Moments after the contact was made, Lui collapsed on the field in front of teammates and opposition players.
The game was stopped and Polimeni was attended to at the ground, but was eventually flown to the Canberra hospital in a critical condition.
The 15-year-old Murrumburrah High School student is currently still in the Canberra hospital in an induced coma surrounded by his parents, Gino and Jenny, as well as his younger brother Joey. They are all keeping vigil by his bedside.
The community has rallied around Lui with prayers being offered along with plenty of well-wishers putting up messages on social media.
Earlier this year, Lui helped save the life of a friend who was knocked unconscious in the Murrumbidgee River after hitting a tree on a swing rope.
