Leeds Fan in Coma After Falling from Tree During Championship Celebration
Leeds Fan in Coma After Falling from Tree During Championship Celebration – A 23-year-old Leeds United supporter is in a coma after falling from a tree during the club’s Championship-winning celebrations, leaving his family devastated and calling for compassion.
Ed O’Brien was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary after he reportedly fell from a tree in Millennium Square on Monday.
The incident happened during a trophy parade attended by more than 150,000 ecstatic fans celebrating Leeds’ return to the Premier League.
According to The Sun, Ed’s mother, Stacey Barker, clarified that while her son had been drinking, he was not out of control.
“As far as I am aware, he had consumed alcohol, but I am confident he wasn’t paralytic as some posts are suggesting,” she said. “I am also as confident as a mother can be that no other substance was involved.”
The fanfare had followed Leeds’ dramatic promotion-clinching win against Plymouth, secured by a stoppage-time goal from Tottenham loanee Manor Solomon.
Fans swarmed the streets, climbing lampposts, traffic lights, and bus stops in jubilation. But amidst the chaos, tragedy struck.
Barker revealed that Ed had already undergone surgery, but the extent of brain damage remains uncertain.
She expressed concern over social media speculation, saying, “We wanted to minimise the countless untruths which are currently circulating around Ed’s condition and also to urge people to consider what they are writing on social media for Ed’s loved ones to see.”
ALSO READ: areMost thieves wear Arsenal jerseys according to Malawian study
“We are going through one of the worst things a parent can go through, and some of the unwarranted comments are further compounding our heartache as a family,” she added.
“Ed is just a young man who made a mistake, and he’s paying for it dearly.”
The young man, who just celebrated his birthday last week, remains in critical condition. His family said he shares a deep bond with his siblings, and his absence is being felt profoundly.
“Ed and his siblings are incredibly close and they’re feeling his absence acutely, as are his dad and I,” Barker told the BBC.
A JustGiving page set up to support Ed’s recovery has far surpassed its modest £70 goal, raising over £10,800.
