Last updated at 16:51, Friday, 26 October 2012

A YOUNG rugby ace has returned to school – just days after being airlifted to hospital after suffering concussion in a match.

RECOVERING: Connor Penrith was airlifted to hospital after suffering concussion while playing for Millom RL under 14s MILTON HAWORTH REF: 50040272B002

Teenager Connor Penrith returned to school yesterday (Thurs) after a few days’ recovery after suffering concussion during Millom RL under 14s’ clash with their Ulverston counterparts.

Going in for a tackle, the 13-year-old was knocked back, banging his head on the ground.

The game was stopped after Connor suffered head and neck injuries and the Great North Air Ambulance, Pride of Cumbria, was scrambled.

Abandoning a training exercise with Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team, the helicopter landed on a nearby playing surface in Albert Street, Millom, before flying Connor to Furness General Hospital.

Mum Lisa Penrith said: “He tackled someone and with the force he ended up banging his head on the floor a couple of times.

“He bounced up again straight away, but started going dizzy and his legs went from under him.

“He said he had pain in the back of his head and neck. When the paramedics arrived they put a neck brace on him and put him on a spinal board before he was flown off to hospital.”

Despite his injuries, Connor’s biggest worry was having his beloved Millom rugby jersey cut off him.

Mrs Penrith said: “The doctors told him that if they needed to prepare him for an X-ray they would have to cut his rugby shirt off, but he was having none of it!”

After initial assessments were carried out, the Millom School pupil was discharged from hospital the same night, with minor concussion and a sore neck.

Following the injury the fullback has been recovering at his Grammerscroft home before he gets back in to the thick of the action next weekend.

Connor said he was looking forward to getting back on the pitch and insisted the experience had not deterred him from making a tackle.

He said: “I just went in for a tackle and I came out worse.”

Mrs Penrith said: “He wanted to go to training on Monday night and he’s been begging me to play this weekend but we’ve said he needs another week to recover.”

Connor’s dad Jake Penrith and Mrs Penrith would like to thank both the Great North Air Ambulance and the North West Ambulance Service for their efforts.

They would also like to thank friend Judith Tyson for comforting Connor after the accident.

First published at 12:42, Friday, 26 October 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk