Serious Injury -C1 & C6 Fracture

Playing sports is and can be extremely aggressive, but everyone that plays, coaches and/or volunteers for any team expects it to be played under the rules, while doing so with safety in mind.

Sunday saw the Nanaimo Timbermen of the West Coast Senior League travel to Delta for game two of a seven game series, with Delta leading by a 1 game to none.

The game was fast, aggressive with heavy hits be handed out by both teams, with no real chippy play raising it’s ugly head until the second period.

Mid way through the second period with the Timbermen leading 7-3, Nanaimo’s Shawn Swanson went in the defensive corner (to the right of his goalie) chasing after a lose ball.

He was nearest the ball and the boards when Ladner Pioneers player Kevin Redhead threw a heavy hit on Swanson at the boards to the right of the net.

Depending on where you were sitting and your angle, it might have been hard to decide if it was a hit from behind or the side, but regardless it was a hit that was not needed!!

The officials moved in quickly to separate the players as Timbermen goalie charged from his crease to take after Redhead, but eventually the officials got him out of the area.

A lengthy delay took place with a call going to 911 and the paramedics taking over, eventually sending Swanson to the Delta Hospital.

The game finished with Nanaimo pulling off a resounding victory tying the series at one and game two Tuesday in Nanaimo.

Posted on Twitter by the League is the following along with a “Gofundme” page.

My name is Lenora Murrin;

I am the statistician for the WCSLA. The West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association is a lacrosse league of senior men from ages 22+.

On Sunday July 24, 2016 in a Semi-Final Playoff game our league was to witness a tragic injury to a fellow player AND league governor.

Shawn Swanson has been the governor & a player of the Nanaimo Timbermen for the past 8 seasons, his full hearted

dedication goes beyond governor to being a player/teammate on the floor.

The following update was received at 530PM this evening from Governor John Burr (Ladner Pioneers)

I spent 6 hours with Shawn last night at the Delta hospital until his wife Jenn arrived at 1:00 in the morning. The Emergency Doctor said he was very lucky to be alive and not paralyzed.

He has a C1 fracture that is in 4 pieces and a C6 fracture and has movement in all of his extremities.

The Dr. said that he has a long road a head of him and he will probably be in hospital for a month after the surgery but the prognosis looks good. He has not been transferred yet to Royal Columbian Hospital.

Neurologists are waiting for a bed to open up for him and he will have surgery to repair the fractures in his neck. I checked on him this morning and again this afternoon and he is still waiting,

Shawn’s parents came in this afternoon when I was there to give him support.

Shawn’s wife was with him all night and mentioned that Shawn is in good spirits but he is very tired and uncomfortable laying still and flat on his back for the last 22 hours.

Please pray for Shawn and his family and hope he gets the best care possible. I will stop by again this evening hoping that he has gone to RCH.

But if not I will keep everyone updated to his condition. John The entire WCSLA is asking you for your help! Shawn will need financial support from the lacrosse community.

We all know the bond in this incredible game and the healing and supportive strength that can be gained by our community pulling together.

We do not want to waste energy on the details of how the injury occurred but to use only positive energy to help the Swanson Family!

 As posted on the “gofundme” site by Natalie Cashmore it states the following:

 I want to clarify Shawn’s procedure….he posted it to the team today and is on a lot of morphine….he is having a fusion done and will have titanium rods/plate installed…not a new titanium vertebrae. ..

I know that doesn’t change anything but wanted everyone to be up to speed and have correct information. …his wife kindly corrected him and in turn, me.

Also, I have been busy preparing for game day and just logged on here to edit the procedure and wanted to thank absolutely everyone who has come on here to donate or share this page…what an incredible community we have…truly blessed….

Thank you all, so very very much!!

Please share this message to all you know – no amount is too little ~ we will keep each and everyone of you updated as much as possible.