A rugby league player suffered a brain haemorrhage when he fell into the crowd after being tackled at Keighley's Cougar Park on Sunday.

The incident happened in the last few minutes of Keighley Cougars' 22-18 defeat by Workington Town.

Workington player Evan Cochrane was involved in the final attack which led to his side's match-winning try. He was running down the sloping pitch on the left wing when he was tackled about two metres short of the Cougars' try line.

He fell over pitch-side hoardings before spinning round and crashing backwards into the crowd in front of the supporters' bar.

The game was stopped for about five minutes as Cochrane, a former London Broncos player and one of Workington's leading try scorers, received attention. Although severely concussed he managed to walk back to the Town bench. An ambulance was called and he was taken to Airedale Hospital.

Workington Town club secretary June Kennedy told the Keighley News yesterday that the 27-year-old Australian centre, who had kicked two goals in the game, was admitted to hospital on Sunday with a suspected fractured skull.

"By Tuesday there had been no improvement in his condition," said Mrs Kennedy. "He then had a brain scan and the scans were sent to Leeds General Infirmary where they were examined."

It was discovered that Cochrane had suffered a brain haemorrhage and had suffered damage to the front of his brain.

He left hospital on Wednesday and returned to his home in Workington. "Evan felt he would be more comfortable resting at home," said Mrs Kennedy.

She added that he would be returning to Leeds in the next few days to see a neurosurgeon and to find out the full extent of his injuries.

Cougars spokesman Gary Murgatroyd says the club sends its best wishes to the player and the Workington club and hopes he makes a speedy recovery.

"We knew he wasn't very well and we were all very concerned," he says. "It is not something that happens regularly but our safety people will look at the incident."

He added that the Cougars have been and will be in regular contact with the Workington club.

Rugby League safety experts have since inspected Cougar Park and the ground was judged to be within regulations.

Match report, page 17

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.