FITCHBURG (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) – A 17-year-old Fitchburg High School football player is recovering after breaking his neck during a game on Friday against Nashoba Regional High School.
Trey Mahone, a senior at Fitchburg High School, was making a tackle in the first quarter of the game when he was hit in the head by one of his teammates. The cornerback said he knew something was seriously wrong when he lost his vision.
Mahone later tweeted, "I'm so blessed. One more play and I wouldn't be alive. Wasn't supposed to walk off the field, but I did. I thank God."
Mahone was rushed to UMass Medical Center where doctors determined that he had broken his neck. Mahone's coach told The Sentinel and Enterprise that Mahone will have to wear a halo for the next four months, but is expected to make a full recovery.
The scare was enough to make some parents question if football and other high school sports are becoming too dangerous.
On Monday, parents ventured to the same field where Mahone was injured to watch their young ones play football.
Cindy and John Maguire told FOX 25's Heather Hegedus that they hold their breath from the sidelines every time their son takes a hit.
The high school's superintendent told FOX 25 that while accidents can not be prevented, the school does have staff equipped to handle medical emergencies.
