Chuckey-Doak High School football player recounts injury during game

GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A Chuckey-Doak High School football player named Ethan Heimiller is on the road to recovery after suffering a serious injury during a game last week against South Greene.

Heimiller told News Channel 11 that he took a hit during the second quarter of the game that resulted in him being airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with a spinal injury.

“I remember catching the ball, juking out of the player and then everything went black,” he said. “But on film, it shows three guys hit me, one in the chest one in the shoulder and one in the back.”

He said he woke up on the field with trainers and coaches surrounding him and telling him to remain calm. Heimiller was then moved into an ambulance while crews awaited the helicopter.

All of this was taking place while his mother watched anxiously.

“It’s the worst feeling a mother could ever have,” Katie Heimiller said. “I mean, you don’t ever want to see your kids go down, hurt anything.”

Chuckey-Doak’s Athletic Director Kyle Donahue said the school has a protocol in place for serious injuries like the one Heimiller received.

“I’m very appreciative of it, where there’s actually people that knows my condition and was there to help me throughout the whole process and stuff,” Heimiller said. “If they wasn’t there, I would say I wouldn’t be here right now.”

Turns out, this wasn’t the first time Heimiller has been injured to the point of needing to be airlifted–he said he suffered an injury in the past that could have worsened his most recent blow.

“They think I hit a nerve and I wasn’t fully recovered from last year’s hit.”

Heimiller suffered from a fractured sternum last year during a game against West Greene High School.

“My spine was shook. So I lost feeling in my legs because of the nerves and stuff.”

Heimiller is still having trouble walking, but he’s been discharged from the UT Medical Center.

“I can lose my feeling in my legs instantly, and when I start walking my legs start buckling and stuff.”

“They said I had a stinger, but it didn’t look as bad as everybody thought. But there is still something wrong.”

Heimiller also sustained a concussion and must continue with follow-up appointments with his primary doctor. He’ll need to wear a neck brace for a while and practice walking.

He said he’s taking things day by day on his road to recovery. Although he said his playing days are over, his love for the game is still there. He said coaching or broadcasting is a possibility in his future.

“I’ve been playing football since I was like six. I got into it because my grandfather, he’s the one that inspired me to play football. I just wanted to always impress him and stuff. So when the first accident happened, I was like, I’m going to get back out there. I’m like, I’m going to go back, do everything.”

“And in this time with this circumstance, I just don’t feel like it’s in my best interest to continue doing it. I think something worse [is] going to happen next time.”

Heimiller said the support from his coaches and teammates has helped him stay strong.

“I just feel like if a player has to go through this, if they feel like they’re not confident, don’t do it. It’s truly not worth it. If I could go back, I probably wouldn’t go back again.”

Heimiller and his mother thanks everyone in the community who has reached out to him and sent prayers. They also appreciate the medical staff at the UT Medical Center.

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