Tasmania's local football community is in shock following a devastating off-field injury that's left a Southern Football League star fighting for his life.
On Saturday night, 26-year-old Cygnet footballer Ryan Wiggins was taken to the Royal Hobart hospital where he underwent an emergency seven-hour surgery after suffering a catastrophic spinal injury.
Wiggins underwent more surgery today in the hope he would be stable enough to be flown to the Austin hospital in Melbourne for further treatment, where a full diagnosis will be made.
The former Lauderdale Bomber and state representative is currently in a critical condition and is facing the prospect of extensive paralysis as a result of the accident.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are still unclear.
In a statement, his sister Caitlyn Wiggins her brother was "the kind of bloke to give you the shirt off his back".
"Never one to sit still, this change in life will hit Ryan and those around him particularly hard," she said.
"If not working as a builder or renovating he and his fiancee Micki's home, you'd find Ryan training or playing football, catching up with mates, planning a wedding and walking his fur babies."
The news has rocked the Tasmanian football community, with the Southern Football League informing its clubs it would postpone this week's seniors, reserves, colts and women's matches out of respect to Wiggins' family and his fiance.
"Ryan is a much-loved and respected member of the Cygnet football club and the SFL," a league spokesperson said.
"The thoughts of the entire SFL executive are with all those impacted across the football family."
Players from the Lauderdale Football Club, where Wiggins played from Auskick until last year and is a life member, will play their Tasmanian State League clash in honour of Wiggins this week.
Messages of support have been delivered from around the footballing world, including from Tasmanian AFL legend Matthew Richardson, while Wiggins' family have begun a crowd funding campaign.
