Soccer Referee Seriously Injured in Freak Accident After Being Hit by Ball
· Yahoo Sports
Credit: gofundme
NEED TO KNOW
- Samir Alnasir was struck in the back of the head by a kicked ball while refereeing a high school soccer game on Aug. 27
- The 51-year-old suffered four fractured bones in his neck, a concussion, a blood clot in his brain and nerve damage
- Alnasir is on strict bed rest and expected to recover for about six months before beginning therapy, according to his family’s GoFundMe
A soccer referee is facing months of recovery after a kicked ball struck him in the back of the head during a high school game in Michigan, leaving him with multiple serious injuries.
Samir Alnasir, 51, lost consciousness and collapsed on the field during the Aug. 27 game at University of Detroit Jesuit High School, according to a GoFundMe organized by his family. The impact left him with four fractured bones in his neck, a concussion, a blood clot in his brain and nerve damage.
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He is now on strict bed rest and using a metal stabilization device while his neck heals. Doctors expect his recovery to take about six months, followed by therapy, according to the fundraiser.
Samir Alnasir, a soccer referee who was seriously injured after being struck by a ball during a high school game in MichiganCredit: gofundme
Alnasir spent two weeks in the hospital, including time in the intensive care unit, before returning home, according to local news outlet Click on Detroit.
He told the outlet that he does not remember the moment he was hit. Before the game, however, he recalled having an uneasy feeling. Reflecting on the accident, Alnasir said he is grateful to be alive.
“Well, I said thank you, because God, I still live. And I still move my hand and my feet,” Alnasir said, according to Click on Detroit.
Samir Alnasir, a soccer referee who was seriously injured after being struck by a ball during a high school game in MichiganCredit: gofundme
The injury has placed an added financial strain on Alnasir’s family. He is a husband and father of four and also cares for his bedridden son, who has required medical care since birth and is currently in need of a kidney, according to the GoFundMe.
With Alnasir unable to work during his recovery, his wife is caring for him, their children and their son while also managing the household, according to the fundraiser. The GoFundMe was created to help the family cover rent, household bills, food, medical and recovery-related expenses and other daily needs while Alnasir is unable to work.
Samir Alnasir, a soccer referee who was seriously injured after being struck by a ball during a high school game in MichiganCredit: gofundme
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Alnasir, who is known in his community through his work as a soccer referee and captain, said he has been deeply moved by the support he’s received since the accident.
“From me and my family, we say thank you. And God bless you, bless everyone. Because now it’s how you feel about people. I’m surprised when I see what they write down for me. It means so much. I mean, rather than for me. And I never feel like I’m by myself,” Alnasir said, according to Click on Detroit.
For Alnasir, the road ahead is expected to include months of recovery and therapy. In the meantime, his family is asking for support as he focuses on healing and they continue caring for him and his son, according to the GoFundMe.
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