A student has been hospitalized after taking a major blow to the head – even though he was wearing a helmet.
At a glance:
- Carter Mason, a high school football player from Rochester High School in Pennsylvania, remains hospitalized after collapsing during a game following a hard hit to his helmet.
- Mason suffered a brain bleed and multiple concussions and has yet to fully regain consciousness, though recent updates from his family show signs of progress.
- The Rochester Area School District and the community have rallied around Mason, offering thoughts, prayers, and support for his recovery.
Carter Mason, a teenager from Rochester High School in Pennsylvania, remains in the hospital after collapsing on the sidelines following a hard hit to his helmet during a football game on October 4. Mason, who suffered a severe brain injury, has been unresponsive since the incident but is showing small signs of improvement, according to updates shared by his family.
The hit, which occurred in the fourth quarter of the game, led to a brain bleed and multiple concussions. His aunt, Sandra Friend, shared on a GoFundMe page that Mason has been able to breathe on his own, and doctors have removed his intubation. “He is responding to some commands, he is saying words when he gets up, and he can sit up a little bit,” Friend said, adding that Mason has started opening his eyes briefly.
Mason’s mother, Terri, described the terrifying moment her son collapsed, recalling how she rushed to his side after learning of his condition. “I was so scared,” she told local news outlet WPXI.
At the time of the hit, Mason was wearing a Guardian Cap, a protective padded helmet designed to reduce the force of head impacts. Despite these precautions, Mason’s injuries underscore the risks involved in contact sports like football.
The Rochester Area School District has expressed its support for Mason and his family during this difficult time, with a statement shared on social media sending thoughts and prayers to the Mason family, coaches, and team.
As the community continues to rally around Mason, his family remains hopeful for a full recovery, taking things “day by day.”
