West Ham fans smash fundraising target for 19-year-old supporter who fractured his skull and ribs falling off a wall at the Europa Conference League final in Prague
West Ham fans have smashed a fundraising target for a 19-year-old fan who remains hospitalised in Prague.
The Hammers triumphed over Fiorentina on Wednesday night – and ended their 43-year wait for a major trophy – after a late Jarrod Bowen strike wrapped up a 2-1 win for them in Prague.
However, the evening was marred for one travelling family after their son was involved in an incident that has left him in hospital and unable to return to England.
Hammers fan Connor Reid, 19, attended the game in Prague with his dad, Alex, before falling off a wall that had a ‘five-metre drop’.
Details on the GoFundMe page claim that the impact caused a fractured skull and a bleed in the brain, and that doctor’s were forced to remove Reid’s spleen.
Connor Reid (left), 19, remains in hospital with serious injuries after falling off a wall in Prague, following West Ham’s Europa Conference League triumph
An initial target was set for £1,000 but, after just 17 hours, the total now stands at £3,151 after thousands of Hammers fans showed their support.
A target of £1,000 was set and was quickly smashed by thousands of Hammers supporters
The GoFundMe page gained particular traction on social media after Alex Reid posted about the incident to his followers on Twitter.
He wrote: ‘So after last nights great performance, my son had a bad fall and is currently in hospital in Prague.
‘Broken ribs fractured Skull and has his spline removed. Was due to come home tomorrow but don’t know what we will do now.
‘Send him some love please #westhamfamily’
As messages of support and advice flooded in to his account, so did the donations and quickly the target had been met.
Father Alex was questioned on what caused the accident, to which he told a fellow Twitter user: ‘He was sitting on a wall waiting for his Uber home not realising there was a five-metre drop the other side and lost his balance’.
While many Hammers fans who attended the final remained in Prague, the club wasted no time in celebrating their success.
The Hammers clinched their first major trophy in 43 years with victory over Fiorentina
Supporters craned for a glimpse of the Europa Conference League-winning stars after their triumphant return to east London
An estimated 70,000 turned out to line the streets to see the first trophy won since 1980, not a bad turn out with thousands still in Prague or somewhere on the way home.
Crowds started to gather at their feet in late afternoon. Some posed for selfies, club colours proudly on full display.
Others quenched hangovers at the Boleyn Tavern. All passed the time by confirming the details of the night before.
The West Ham parade ended in Stratford, home since the move to London Stadium in 2016, where young supporters had been on bus shelters and clinging to lampposts and road signs for hours and street traders hawked bubble guns for £8.
