A Porirua kickboxer has been hospitalised with potentially career-ending injuries after a "freak accident" on Saturday night.
Ra Redden was admitted to Wellington hospital after a fall during a bout at the Porirua Kennel Club left him with severe spinal cordinjuries.
"He couldn't feel his arms and legs below his shoulders," family spokesman Mike Angove told NZME.
According to Angove, the 26-year-old was engaged in a Muay Thai clinch with opponent Gene Elbourne and grappling for a dominant position before twisting and falling to the mat with his head at an awkward angle.
Paramedics were immediately at his side where they attended to him for 30 minutes, until he was taken to hospital for emergency surgery on with what was later diagnosed as a fractured vertebrae.
Redden has since been transported to the Burwood Spinal Unit in Christchurch for specialist care where he remains in an induced coma. His partner and five-year-old son have flown south to be by his side.
"Everyone is just extremely concerned, and a number of family have flown to Christchurch to be there with him," Angove, a former professional fighter turned commentator, added.
"As to the seriousness of the injury, no one is 100 per cent sure and the community is rallying around very quickly."
Measures to support Redden's family and contribute towards his ongoing medical care are already underway, with a GiveaLittle page already having raised over $20,000.
His family are longtime residents of Porirua with a heavy involvement in combat sports.
The local gym out of which Redden fights, Alpha Muay Thai, took to social media to acknowledge the messages of support received and express their own gratitude to the medical staff involved.
"Thank you to everyone that has been messaging and I would like to thank the medical staff of Wellington free ambulance from last night that did an amazing job," they said on their Facebook page.
"We are trying to stay as positive as possible in this situation and do what ever we can for Ra."
Newshub.
