duck light on the subject from FOX website
Swain cracks vertebra
By James Hooper
June 22, 2004
THERE were fears about the immediate playing future of Penrith forward Luke Swain last night after a freak accident left the hard-running lock with a fractured vertebra in his neck.
Swain spent last night in traction at St George Hospital after a playful early-morning wrestle with fellow Penrith forward Trent Waterhouse went wrong on Monday morning.
The pair had chosen to stay at Rydges in Cronulla after the Panthers' win over the Sharks on Sunday.
The incident occurred in their room when Swain and Waterhouse were rumbling at about 5am.
Initially Waterhouse thought Swain was joking until his teammate told him to call an ambulance. Swain was suffering from pins and needles in his arms but had full feeling in his legs.
Waterhouse spent yesterday with him at Sutherland Hospital in Miranda before Swain was moved to St George Hospital, where he will have surgery today.
Waterhouse was privately extremely upset about the accident last night. "We were just stuffing around wrestling. I thought he was only mucking around when he said he was hurt," Waterhouse said.
Penrith coach John Lang confirmed Swain was expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
"He's OK. He's got his movement but he felt something go. He must have landed awkwardly," Lang said.
Provided the operation is a success then Swain is expected to be able to return for the Panthers next season.
