Halley Appleby dies after being injured in on-field rugby accident.
RUGBY player Halley Appleby has had his life support switched off two days after being injured in a freak on-field accident in Brisbane, police say.
Mr Appleby, 21, was rushed to the intensive care unit of Royal Brisbane Hospital on Saturday with a spinal fracture and brain injury after a freak accident in a club match.
The University player was pronounced brain dead on Sunday afternoon after suffering a brain haemorrhage during a premier grade match against home side GPS at Ashgrove on Saturday afternoon.
Police on Monday morning confirmed that Mr Appleby's life support had been switched off.
It is understood the family was waiting for Mr Applebys girlfriend to return from overseas before turning his life support off.
He was resuscitated on the field after he stopped breathing following a tackle while playing for University of Queensland against GPS in A grade.
The action of doctors in the crowd and the quick medical response of GPS and University medical staff gave the former St Joseph's at Nudgee student the best attention until ambulance officers arrived at the Yoku Rd ground at Ashgrove.
The match was called off. Players and fans were visibly upset at the traumatic scene as treatment to keep Appleby alive was enacted behind hastily erected screens on the field. Ambulance officers attended to heart problems that followed the initial injuries.
Mr Appleby had been in a critical condition in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.
"The family is not ready to comment," a hospital spokeswoman said.
Mr Appleby's coach Mick Zaicek said Mr Appelby had been on the field as a substitute in a premier grade game for only five minutes when the accident happened.
It was quite innocuous, it was a strong tackle but nothing illegal, he said.
It was one of those tragic things where he never got up.
Mr Zaicek said Mr Appelby had just finished playing in a reserve grade game the team had won in the final minutes and was in high spirits.
He was one of the best players, he said.
He was really happy and was in high spirits, and everyone was in great form.
The coach described Mr Appleby as a champion bloke.
Halley was extremely popular amongst the playing group and his mates, he said.
He was one of those guys who liked to be the life of the party, always making jokes, and a very popular guy.
He was also a very tough and talented football player.
Mr Zaicek said because Mr Appleby was so tough they expected him to recover.
You always expect him to bounce back up but not this time.
Mr Appelby loved rugby.
Halley loved his football, he really did he was a good schoolboy player good Colts player he has been with us since he finished school, Mr Zaicek said.
He was a very talented player and a very humble bloke.
I know its a cliché but he was universally liked, he really was.
Its a very tight knit club. The boys are devastated.
The coach said Mr Appleby was among team members conducting fundraising to go on a rugby tour of the UK at the end of the year.
Premier Anna Bligh and Sport Minister Phil Reeves this morning issued a statement passing on their sincere condolences to the family.
For a young man with such a bright future to lose his life in this way is heartbreaking, the Premier said.
He was in his prime and he had the world at his feet and it is cruel that he should be taken from his family in this way. I offer my condolences to his family and friends.
Minister Reeves said the death was a terrible loss.
This is such a tragedy for a player so young and I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and those who shared his love for rugby and his sportsmanship, Mr Reeves said.
The Queensland Rugby Union has issued a statement, saying "the entire Queensland Rugby community is deeply saddened by the news that Halley has passed away . . . and the thoughts and prayers of the organisation remain with his family, friends and all those affected by this tragic accident."
"Halley was extremely popular at the University of Queensland Rugby Club and he will be missed terribly within the entire rugby community."
Emotional outpourings on Facebook and Twitter reflected Appleby's popularity as a friend and high-spirited footballer.
"Fantastic player but incredible bloke. My thoughts are with u and your family," Kyle Beakey wrote on Facebook.
Relative Gaye Reid posted on Facebook: "A tragic footie accident at 21 years old. Devastated."
The University club, flood-hit in January, posted on its website a message "to thank all clubs and individuals for the on-going messages of support for Halley and the Appleby family".
Queensland Reds doctor Greg Smith, a spectator at the ground, joined efforts to get Appleby breathing again.
"I've never seen an accident like this before. It was an exceptional event and the care given by both clubs and all the medical people was at the highest level," Dr Smith said.
The Queensland Rugby Union declined to comment until an update on the player's condition had been received.
Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
- Jodie Munro O'Brien, Jim Tucker, Brooke Baskin
