Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Nathan Ridley

West Ham fan, 19, in hospital after falling off wall and fracturing skull in Prague

A 19-year-old West Ham fan remains in hospital after falling off a wall and fracturing his skull while in Prague for Wednesday's Europa Conference League final win.

The Irons ended their 58-year wait for a European trophy after beating Italian side Fiorentina 2-1 thanks to Jarrod Bowen's sensational 90th-minute winner. As fans celebrated one of the greatest nights in West Ham's history, one family's trip to the Czech capital turned sour.

Connor Reid, who made the journey to Prague with his dad, Alex, suffered a fall at a "five-metre drop" which fractured his skull and left him unable to return home to England. Details on a GoFundMe page organised to help Connor and his father get accommodation and eventually fly home say that the impact caused a bleed on the brain and doctors were also forced to remove his spleen.

An initial target of £1,000 was set by Georgina Chalmers, Connor's auntie, but kind supporters have more than trebled that amount in less than a day. After 20 hours, the total now stands at a superb £3,451 in a brilliant show of support for the injured Irons fan.

Dad Alex's post on Twitter kicked off the swell support for Connor, as he wrote: "So after last night's great performance, my son had a bad fall and is currently in hospital in Prague. Broken ribs, fractured skull and has his spleen removed. Was due to come home tomorrow but don't know what we will do now. Send him some love please #westhamfamily."

As support flooded in, Alex was asked to explain what happened to his teenage boy. "He was sitting on a wall waiting for his Uber home not realising there was a five-metre drop the other side and lost his balance," he replied.

The father and son sadly missed Thursday's victory parade in East London. Despite many fans still being in Prague or making their way home, an estimated 70,000 lined the streets to watch West Ham show off their first trophy since 1980.

Speaking at the open-top bus parade, Irons manager David Moyes beamed: "Incredible. We had incredible support in Prague and here in East London is sensational. We had a brilliant night. What a finish by Jarrod Bowen and it was a great moment for us all.

"We will enjoy what we have done just now - 14 wins and one draw in the Europa Conference League. Last year we got to a semi final but this year we have won the final!"

Captain Declan Rice added: "To lift this trophy for this club hasn't hit me yet. It is so special. I am lost for words. These are the best fans in the world again for me - two years in a row now we have been in Europe and they travel all around to follow us. The future is bright, we have some top players. Let's see what it holds."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.