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Wales Online
3 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wales fan suffered broken back bone in stadium fall as TV star rushed to help
Wales fan suffered broken back bone in stadium fall as TV star rushed to help The 29-year-old fell from the upper tier of the Stade Roi Baudouin into the lower tier during Monday night's World Cup qualifier Wales' players acknowledge their fans at the end of the game in Brussels (Image: AFP or licensors ) A football fan has issued an update from hospital after falling from the stands while watching Wales' World Cup qualifier against Belgium on Monday night. Welsh supporter Scott Rees fell from the upper tier of the Stade Roi Baudouin into the lower tier while celebrating a goal for Craig Bellamy's side during the 4-3 defeat in Brussels and was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital. Remarkably, the 29-year-old has now reassured fellow fans that he is "fine", although he has also revealed he broke a small bone in his back in the fall. In a post on a Wales football fans group page on Facebook, Mr Rees shared a photo of himself doing a thumbs up alongside two fellow Welsh fans and wrote: "I'm fine. "I fell from the top tier and only broken a small bone in my back. Hope everyone had a good night." He later added: "Really appreciate all the messages, had lots of people checking in on me. I'm battered and bruised but thankfully I'll live to tell the tale with no long term damage." Mr Rees was later seen at Brussels airport in a wheelchair as fans made their way home. Article continues below Reports emerged late in the second half of Monday night's match that a fan had fallen from the top tier of the stadium, with some of the 4,500 Welsh supporters in attendance said to be in tears as the concerning scenes unfolded. Content cannot be displayed without consent Wales fan Ian Hamer told BBC Radio Wales that he had heard a "loud thud" and "huge commotion" shortly after Wales scored their third goal, with Brennan Johnson drawing the teams level at 3-3 having been 3-0 down after 27 minutes. "Police, stewards, paramedics rushed into that area [the lower tier] and three, four rows were cordoned off," said Mr Hamer. "Word got around quickly that a Wales fan had fallen from the front of the top tier into the lower tier of the stadium and had landed, had sort of clipped some fans as he fell. "The next sort of 15 minutes the paramedics were treating the man and eventually they took him out on a stretcher and brought an ambulance to the back of the concourse, blue lights flashing from where he was taken to hospital after the game. "Everyone's relieved to know that the man who fell is OK." Comedian and broadcaster Elis James is believed to have been one of the first responders to the incident and he has been hailed as a 'Red Wall legend' on social media for how he and several other fans in the lower tier helped Mr Rees. One post said James was among a group of fans who rushed to get help from stewards and emergency services at the stadium, with supporters working with stewards and FAW liason staff to clear the area as paramedics helped the 29-year-old before moving him out of the stands on a stretcher. Welsh comedian, broadcaster, actor and football fan Elis James (Image: Adrian White ) A statement from the FAW on Monday night read: "We can confirm that one male fan fell from the upper to lower tier during the match at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels this evening. "He was conscious and speaking and has now been taken to hospital for further checks." Article continues below The match saw Bellamy's men come close to pulling off an incredible comeback result as goals from Harry Wilson, Sorba Thomas and Johnson put them level with Belgium - who looked home and dry with a 3-0 lead after less than half an hour - with just 20 minutes left of the contest. However, it was to be heartbreak in the end as an 88th-minute strike from Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne saw the men in red head home from Brussels empty handed.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Bellamy's Wales make whirlwind impact by prioritising pride over patience
It was perhaps the best indicator of an unforgettable evening and, fortunately, even in defeat, there was a happy ending. The supporter who went tumbling from the upper tier to the lower tier as he celebrated Wales pulling level at 3-3 against Belgium on Monday, having trailed 3-0 after 27 minutes, was treated at hospital and got off lightly, the only lasting damage a minor broken bone in his back. 'Sore this morning, mind,' 29-year-old Scott Rees posted on social media. Another supporter, in Block B of the King Baudouin Stadium, saw his wallet gain wings after Brennan Johnson's headed equaliser. It was that kind of night in Brussels. It was a strange one, too, given it was hard for any of the 4,500 travelling supporters to be too downbeat despite ultimately losing the game 4-3, an unmarked Kevin De Bruyne bypassing Johnson to ghost in at the back post to snatch an 88th-minute winner. It was not a defeat without any ramifications – Wales are now second in Group J behind North Macedonia and Belgium will surely be favourites to qualify for the World Cup from here – but it was one where pride quickly trumped any disappointment. Stoke's Sorba Thomas perhaps put it best. 'They thought it was done,' said the winger. 'We showed the Welsh fight, the Welsh fire.' Craig Bellamy was uncomfortable with his first defeat since taking charge almost 12 months ago being painted as a brave loss, but he was delighted with the way his players responded to Jérémy Doku, whose quick feet troubled Wales throughout, making it 3-0. 'I don't like losing, I understand the game but how you lose is more important,' said the Wales manager. 'Who are you as a person? Who is your team? I see that and I'm beyond proud. We're a good team.' As Ben Davies, the Wales captain who recently extended his stay at Tottenham, led his teammates towards the away end after the final whistle, Bellamy was engrossed in conversation with Romelu Lukaku, having enjoyed a word with De Bruyne and Doku. Bellamy did not divulge the details but said those conversations included Belgium's big-hitters acknowledging Wales's endearing approach when many would have considered it an exercise in damage limitation. This time last year Wales were fresh off a 4-0 pasting by Slovakia which ultimately cost Bellamy's predecessor and former teammate, Rob Page, his job. That was three days after an experimental side laboured to a 0-0 draw against Gibraltar, then 203rd in the Fifa rankings. It is impossible not to recognise the strides Wales have taken under Bellamy. Asked whether they were ahead of schedule on the eve of the Belgium game, the 45-year-old was keen to downplay the turnaround before eventually caving in. '[With] the speed of progress, yeah. I was trying to not but, of course,' he said. Bellamy does not indulge in managerial cliche – just listen to his existential life advice on the eve of the game – and nor does he have time for buzzwords. He cuts to the chase. His record is now one slender, late defeat across 10 matches. 'I just think it shows, all the time we're always asking for time, asking to be patient, it's a process, blah, blah, blah,' he said. 'Get to work. That's it. Players are cleverer than you think. Players are good footballers. Let them be good footballers. Give them the tools. Work. Run. Press. React. Lose it, get it back.' The manager highlighted how both teams gained momentum from the opposition failing to absorb the setback of conceding penalties, both of which were questionable, the first against Johnson for handball and the second against Matz Sels, for colliding with Chris Mepham. Defeat in Belgium will not sit heavy on Bellamy or his players and they will aim to build on the wave of momentum generated by a promising start to qualifying. 'This is like a one-off opportunity for me, I'm only going to be the Wales manager for a short period and it's an honour,' Bellamy said. 'This was the one I always wanted to do so I'm going to enjoy every second. I read something in the Belgium media … 'Easy way to the USA?' There's a lot of life in this group and I saw a lot of life in this team. We ain't going anywhere. I will have a couple of weeks now of recharging. I'm beyond proud and just really excited about the future.'
