Grassroots footballer has to wait for almost two and a half hours for ambulance to arrive after suffering broken leg

Harvest striker Harry Byrne suffered the injury after coming off worse in a 50-50 challenge with the Whitehill & Bordon keeper after seven minutes of Saturday’s Hampshire Premier League Cup tie at Front Lawn.

After eventually being taken to QA Hospital, Byrne - who previously played for Meon Milton in the Mid-Solent League - was put on ‘very strong painkillers and a consistent drip to maintain fluid levels.’

He underwent an operation on Sunday which involved ‘placing a large metal rod into the shin holding the bone in place.’

The tie was abandoned and will be replayed.

Harvest boss Steve Harris said: ‘It was a 50-50 challenge, nothing malicious.

‘Whitehill and Bordon were great - they’ve offered to do some fundraising, they’ve checked in asking how Harry is. They have shown some class.

‘We were told the ambulance could take around two hours, so the two managers and the two captains spoke to the referee and we agreed to call it off.

‘Harry’s been told 16 weeks, that’s four months, so we might see him back towards the end of the season.’

A spokesman for South Central Ambulance Service said: ‘Patients are prioritised based on clinical need to ensure the sickest patients receive the care and treatment they require as quickly as possible.

‘When our crews arrive at any scene they deliver expert medical care promptly but there will be occasions when prioritisation means some patients will wait longer, particularly at times of great pressure on the service as we are seeing currently.

‘We would urge the patient to contact our patient experience team so we can address any questions or concerns he has regarding the care he received from us.’

Harvest host QK Southampton in their second HPL Division 1 SE fixture of 2021/22 this weekend. Both sides had huge first-day wins - Harvest thrashing Michelmersh 11-0 and QK going two better against AFC Netley.