A FOOTBALLER who was treated for concussion after falling awkwardly into a pitch-side railing was left waiting for an ambulance for over two hours.

Sam Hunt, who plays for Hereford side Westfields, was injured on Tuesday night with his side beating Longlevens 3-0. Emergency services were called at 9.15pm.

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The player unable to move because of fears that he had a severe neck and back injury.

The club’s physio Joe Darley, along with volunteers, looked after Mr Hunt while they waited for ambulance, which did not arrive until 11.38pm.

A spokesman for the West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “The trust would like to apologise for the time it took to get to the injured footballer.

“Currently, the whole of the NHS is under severe pressure.

“Yesterday, we lost the equivalent of 100 ambulances due to hospital handover delays.  Inevitably that has a knock-on effect on how quickly we can get to patients.

“Our staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to reach patients as quickly as possible, but we accept that on too many occasions that isn’t as quickly as patients, their loved ones and our own staff would want.”

Mr Hunt was discharged from hospital on Wednesday morning, saying he was “battered and bruised, with a cracked head, concussion and neck and shoulder injuries.”

Westfields manager Phil Glover said there was initial frustration at the delay, but he understood the pressure the emergency services were under.

“It’s not ideal for him to be on the pitch for two-and-a-half hours on a cold night,” said Mr Glover.

“We are just fortunate that the injury wasn’t more serious than it was. As a club, when things like this happens it makes us closer and stronger.”

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