West Adelaide SANFL player Sam May hospitalised in ‘difficult situation’

A 24-year-old Adelaide footballer has been hospitalised in a serious condition after an incident at a Port Lincoln pub on Sunday.

West Adelaide SANFL player Sam May was injured in an incident at the Pier Hotel in Port Lincoln in the early hours of Sunday morning, with his club saying it was working through a “difficult situation” with his family.

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The SANFL released a statement on Monday saying it was providing “ongoing assistance” to West Adelaide as a family member said he had been transferred from Port Lincoln to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

It is understood no other person was involved in the incident, with Adelaide Now reporting May sustained “life-altering injuries”.

“The West Adelaide Football Club can confirm that senior men’s player Sam May was involved in an incident in the early hours of Sunday morning at Port Lincoln,” the club said in a statement.

“Our priority is the health and wellbeing of Sam and his family as well as the wider WAFC community.

“The club requests that the family and everyone involved is given the space and privacy as we work through this difficult situation.”

A statement released through a member of May’s family thanked West Adelaide club doctor Megan Deakin for assisting him at the scene of the incident.

“We are truly grateful for the incredible care our beautiful boy received in Port Lincoln (before) being transferred to Adelaide and now in the RAH,” it read.

“Sammy is the light of our lives and we absolutely love and adore him as does everyone who is lucky enough to meet him. As awful and as difficult as it is, we just need to wait now.

“Your love, strength and prayers for our Sammy are appreciated beyond measure.

“We have always been so incredibly proud of Sammy, for all that he has achieved and the fabulous young man he is; he’s always been such an inspiration.

“We all know he has the heart of a lion and an amazingly brave spirit. He will be doing everything he can to get back to his best. Sincere thanks and much love.”

May travelled to Port Lincoln for West Adelaide’s game against Norwood at Centenary Oval for the annual Teakle Cup clash, which Norwood won by 13 points.

May, a strong defender who is 182cm tall, had seven disposals, three marks and three tackles in the game against the Redlegs.

It was the 25th senior SANFL game of his career.