A fast-acting referee is being hailed a hero after he leapt into action to help an injured player during a match in Darling.
Darling, South Africa (08 November 2023) — During a club competition rugby match in Darling, a hero referee emerged and swooped into action to help an injured player right in the nick of time.
As the match between Robertson RFC and Darling RC saw players battle it out, one player, Lindsay ‘Grimmy’ Eksteen endured a blow to the head. Boland referee, Le-Eustace Beukes, kept a close eye on Lindsay, and when the player was about to drop Beukes sprinted into action just in time to catch him—protecting him from injuring himself further.
Beukes held on to the player and stopped the match immediately. The moment was said to have happened in the blink of an eye, so much so that other club administrators didn’t even know what was happening at the time.
But, Beukes’ training and intuition as both a referee and law enforcement official made him the man of the match, and soon Lindsay was stabilised by paramedics before being taken to hospital in Malmesbury.
@bolandrugbyunion #HERO Referee Lee Beukes coming to the aid of @rfc_top12_23 speedster Lincoln Eksteen in a @sanlam_group Boland Top12 match against #DalringRC ♬ Avengers Theme (From “Infinity War”)[Epic Remix] – Sound Market
Thanks to the referee’s fast-acting momentum and profound care not just for the game of rugby, but the players involved, he has been hailed a hero referee and an example for others to follow across communities in the Western Cape.
Especially in the world of sport where referees are so often the butt of negativity, Beukes’ actions are a reminder of the humanity that all sports shouldn’t forget.
Lindsay was transported to Tygerberg Hospital and is said have endured a series of fits. He was discharged on Sunday evening.
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