West Ham fans smash fundraising target for 19-year-old supporter who got injured in Prague
West Ham fans destroy fundraising goal for 19-year-old supporter who broke his skull and ribs when he fell off a wall during the Europa Conference League final in Prague
West Ham fans have reached a goal to raise money for a 19-year-old fan still in hospital in Prague.
The Hammers triumphed over Fiorentina on Wednesday night – ending their 43-year wait for a major trophy – after a late strike from Jarrod Bowen gave them a 2-1 win in Prague.
However, the evening was marred for a traveling family after their son was involved in an incident that left him hospitalized and unable to return to England.
Hammers fan Connor Reid, 19, attended the game in Prague with his father, Alex, before falling off a wall with a ‘five meter drop’.
Details about the GoFundMe page claim that the impact caused a skull fracture and bleeding in the brain, and that the doctors were forced to remove Reid’s spleen.
Connor Reid (left), 19, is in hospital with serious injuries after falling off a wall in Prague following West Ham’s Europa Conference League victory
A goal of £1,000 was set and quickly crushed by thousands of Hammers supporters
An initial target was set at £1,000, but after just 17 hours the total now stands at £3,151 after thousands of Hammers fans showed their support.
The GoFundMe page received a lot of attention on social media after Alex Reid posted to his followers on Twitter about the incident.
He wrote: ‘So after last night’s great performance my son has had a bad fall and is currently in hospital in Prague.
Broken ribs, skull fracture and his spline has been removed. Was going to come home tomorrow but don’t know what to do now. Please send him some love #westhamfamily’
As the messages of support and advice poured into his account, the donations also poured in and the goal was quickly reached.
Dad Alex was questioned about the cause of the accident, to which he told a fellow Twitter user: “He was sitting on a wall waiting at his Uber house, not realizing there was a 5m fall on the other side and lost its equilibrium’.
The Hammers won their first major trophy in 43 years with a victory over Fiorentina
While many Hammers fans attending the final remained in Prague, the club wasted no time in celebrating their success.
An estimated 70,000 people lined the streets to see the first trophy won since 1980, not a bad turnout with thousands still in Prague or somewhere on their way home.
At the end of the afternoon, crowds began to gather at their feet. Some posed for selfies, proud of the club colours. Others quench hangovers at the Boleyn Tavern. All passed the time confirming the details from the night before.
The West Ham parade ended in Stratford, home since moving to the London Stadium in 2016, where young supporters spent hours in bus shelters clinging to lampposts and road signs and street traders selling bubble guns for £8.
Supporters yearned for a glimpse of the Europa Conference League winning stars after their triumphant return to East London