A 12-year-old Little League World Series player is in critical condition after falling from a bunk bed at the players’ dorm in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, his team told CNN.
Easton Oliverson of Utah’s Snow Canyon Little League suffered a fractured skull from the fall, his team said. He is being treated at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville, Pennsylvania, according to a hospital spokesman.
The injury happened early Monday morning, according to a statement from Little League International. St. George News reports Oliverson fell out of his bed in his sleep in the middle of the night, citing a source within the team.
Oliverson was flown to the local children’s hospital, where he underwent surgery to stop the bleeding and stabilize him, according to an Instagram account set up to update on his condition. He was then placed in a medically induced coma, his team said.
Oliverson’s father Jace, who is an assistant coach on his son’s team, said in a statement: “There was a lot of blood in his brain and it caused a lot of pressure. He had what is called an epidural hematoma. He fractured his skull and meanwhile punctured an artery outside the brain that caused the bleeding.”
Oliverson’s doctors began weaning him off pain medication and reducing his oxygen with positive results, the Instagram account reported Tuesday afternoon, adding that a family neurosurgeon said the boy’s CT scan “looked great.”
The report also said Oliverson was able to physically react when one of his friends spoke to him on the phone.
“He told Easton to put his thumb up – and he did! His friend then told him to put his other thumb up – and he did! We are so thankful for these little miracles,” the post reads.
“On Tuesday afternoon, August 16, Little League officials spoke to Easton’s family and were pleased to hear that his medical team remains encouraged by their progress,” Little League International said in a statement. “At the request of his family, Little League International encourages everyone to join us in keeping the Snow Canyon Little League player and his family in our thoughts and prayers as we wish for a full and full recovery.
The organization said it will use all available resources to “support the player, his family and his coaches and teammates as they navigate this unfortunate situation.”
Oliverson’s Snow Canyon Little League team will play its first game of the Little League World Series on Friday afternoon. Snow Canyon is the first Utah team to make the series in the tournament’s 75-year history.