Player's son lucky to escape injury
The son of Cronulla player Chris Heighington has escaped virtually unscathed after he was run over by a buggy.
PT0M40S 620 349Cronulla have vowed to conduct an investigation after a frightening incident soon after full-time on Sunday in which Chris Heighington's son was run over by a buggy on the field.
Players rushed frantically to lift the vehicle off three-year-old Rocco at the Monty Porter Stand end of Southern Cross Group Stadium after he was trapped under it minutes after the Sharks' 25-20 win over Gold Coast. The boy was carried away from the scene by Heighington and then his wife Sonya and assessed by paramedics in the Sharks dressing room, with the club reporting that he had a cut inside his mouth but appeared to be otherwise unharmed.
Heighington took to Instagram on Sunday night to say that his son was recovering from the ordeal.
Worrying time: Chris Heighington of the Sharks. Photo: Brendon Thorne
Cronulla chief executive Lyall Gorman said initial indications were that the buggy, which is used after games to collect signage, had been unmanned at the time. It had rolled forward after its attendant had inadvertently tossed a corner post onto its accelerator pedal.
"The doctor said that he's OK," Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan said. "I think they're still checking him out because he's only a little kid and he can't tell me too much what's wrong with him.
"Yeah, it's terribly concerning but hopefully he's OK. He's in the sheds with the doctor and the paramedics so touch wood he's OK. [The club] will find out how it happened. I'll leave that to Lyall and his men. We'll make sure that we find out why and how."
Sharks captain Paul Gallen was speaking on air with 2GB sideline eye Mark Riddell as the accident occurred.
"I was doing the interview with the 'Pig' [Riddell] and it was a pretty distressing sight," Gallen said.
"It didn't look good but the boys were there pretty quick and they tipped the buggy on the side and got him out. I can't imagine how Heighno must feel. It didn't look great. But as Flanno said thankfully he's OK.
