Footballer with horrific double-leg break waited five hours on pitch for ambulance

A footballer who suffered a horrific double-leg fracture in a League Cup match waited five hours on the pitch for an ambulance, according to exclusive details obtained by this publication. Brooke Paterson, 19, of Linlithgow Rose Ladies FC, was seriously injured during a tackle in the game against Cumbernauld United at the weekend and remained on the field as emergency responders were mobilized.

Seven emergency calls were logged as the situation unfolded, but it was not until after dark that an ambulance arrived at the ground. The delay prompted concern among players, parents and club staff, who described the scene as traumatic and distressing. Paterson’s head coach, Paul Hopwood, said the team’s priority was to keep her safe and warm while waiting for an appropriate course of action.

Hopwood detailed the immediate response, noting that moving Paterson could have caused further harm. He said a first aider from Cumbernauld United accompanied the injured player onto the field, recognizing the severity of the leg injury, and a doctor from another Cumbernauld team was alerted by the home club’s chairman and arrived to assess the situation. The on-site medical assessment concluded that relocating Paterson would be dangerous given the extent of the injury, and responders focused on stabilizing her and keeping her comfortable while awaiting a formal ambulance transfer.

The game started at 2 p.m., and by around 8 p.m. Paterson had endured roughly six hours on the pitch, with dusk turning to darkness. Hopwood said the atmosphere among players and families grew increasingly tense as the wait continued. He noted that Paterson’s mother remained by her side throughout, taking an active role in communicating with emergency services when questions about the response times arose.

A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service subsequently apologized for the delay, saying the service had received multiple calls for the incident on 21 September but that high demand and hospital turnaround times in the region—reported at 90 minutes to three hours—slowed response times. The spokesperson invited Paterson or her family to contact the Patient Experience Team to review the case further and pledged to discuss the response personally. The service’s comments emphasized that the priority remained the patient’s safety and the appropriate medical decision about moving the patient.

Paterson underwent an operation to repair a broken fibula and tibia and is reported to be recovering in hospital. Her case has drawn expressions of concern from Scottish Women’s Football, which said it shared the club’s concern over the lengthy wait and offered support for the player’s recovery.

The incident has prompted questions about emergency response prioritization in football-related injuries. Hopwood said a formal complaint would be raised with the Scottish Ambulance Service, adding that the club would seek a full review of the case to understand why the response was delayed. He stressed that the aim was to prevent any repetition and to ensure players receive timely medical attention in future matches.

Last year, a Partick Thistle player was left waiting on the pitch for several hours after a suspected serious head injury in a match against Rangers, underscoring ongoing scrutiny over on-field medical response times in Scottish football. The latest incident adds to a broader conversation about safety protocols and resource allocation in urgent medical scenarios involving amateur and semi-professional clubs.

Paterson’s family and Linlithgow Rose supporters are hopeful for a full recovery, with medical teams continuing to monitor her progress as she recovers in hospital. The club and governing bodies have said they will review the circumstances surrounding the delay to inform future practices and safeguard players on the field.