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Story from Stuff.co.nz

Connor McColl, 15, of Alton, was competing in the Australasian Down Under Wrestling Tournament in Brisbane on Monday when he was injured by a move similar to a spear tackle, his father, Hugh McColl, said yesterday.

Initially paralysed on his left side by a broken vertebra in his neck and dislocation between two discs, he has shown signs of improvement.

Since an operation to insert a plate into his neck, Connor had developed sensations and had been able to flex a thigh muscle and raise his forearm slightly, Mr McColl said.

“There’s signs of messages getting through. It’s wait and see.”

It was Connor’s second bout as part of the New Zealand secondary schools team on the first day of competition against teams from Australia and the United States.

“When you’ve got kids you do think about that sort of thing now and again when they are playing contact sports,” Mr McColl said.

“And you just hope that it doesn’t happen to yours.

“But when it does you just have to deal with it.”

“The priority is to be making sure that Connor’s getting the best treatment available and support.”

His mother has flown to be by his side while his father has stayed behind with Connor’s sister and two younger brothers.

Connor is in the Princess Alexandra Hospital spinal unit in Brisbane.

His family is grateful for the support of friends and family, Mr McColl said.

“The surgeon has said he is going to be in Brisbane for weeks, he doesn’t know how many weeks.”

Mr McColl said his son would need to go to the Burwood Spinal Unit in Christchurch for rehabilitation when he was able to return home.

Connor is the second highest-ranked wrestler in the North Island in his 63 kilogram weight range.