Rugby cop seriously hurt in fall from wall

An Australian policeman is in Dunedin Hospital with a serious head injury after falling off a wall in the city at the weekend.

Dunedin Police Rugby Club president Insp Matt Scoles said the Australian Federal Police officer, of Canberra, played in the Australian Police XV against the South Island Police XV at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.

A social event followed the game, he said.

Two people passing by found the 33-year-old man in Bath St in central Dunedin early yesterday, Insp Scoles said.

The man had fallen about 4m from a wall and sustained a serious head injury.

The man was given first aid by people who found him, who called St John.

When paramedics arrived about 3.30am, the man was bleeding from his head.

He was concious when he was taken by ambulance to the Dunedin Hospital emergency department, a St John spokesman said.

"If it hadn't had been for those guys finding him when they did, the situation could have been a lot more serious," Insp Scoles said. 

There were no suspicious circumstances, he said.

The man's family would arrive in Dunedin today.

Officials of the Australian Police Rugby Union had remained in Dunedin, while players and remaining management left for Queenstown for the game against New Zealand Police tomorrow.

``It's an extremely tough time for players and management of the Australian Police Rugby Union team.''

 

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