Youth Football Player Recovering from Head and Neck Injuries

A Manchester girl who suffered neck and head injuries during a Sunday youth football league game is recovering at home, her mother said.

Alexis Difilippo, 12, is recovering from "severe" whiplash and a concussion she sustained in an American Youth Football game held at the sports complex on Route 571, her mother Kim Pyne said in an email.

"She is currently experiencing blurred vision, dizziness and nausea from the concussion," Pyne said. "She does have some swelling in the back of the neck as well but she is resting at home with her twin sister and the rest of her family."

Manchester police Patrolman Keith Craig responded to the field at 12:37 p.m. Sunday for a 12-year-old football player with a neck injury.

Upon Craig's arrival, medical personnel were stabilizing the girl, one of four captains of her team, on the 50-yard line where the injury occurred.

Pyne said that the injuries happened during the game's second quarter. 

"Alexis tackled him from behind when they went to the ground some part of the other players uniform became caught up on her helmet causing her head to abruptly twist," she said.

The girl, who was named an all star at the first game of the season, was in and out of consciousness following the injury and the medical personnel on scene requested a helicopter for transport to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. A MONOC MedEvac helicopter was dispatched to the landing zone at Manchester Township Middle School.

"It was a challenge to keep her conscious but all of the coaches did an outstanding job. I was on the field with her the entire time as I have spent 20-plus years in EMS both in a volunteer and paid capacity," Pyne said.

Manchester and Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Companies were also dispatched to secure the landing zone. Once stabilized the patient was flown via helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for evaluation and treatment.

Difilippo, a guard and tackle who is in her third year playing, will not be able to compete in her team's playoff run, her mother said, though she "is looking forward to getting back out on the field next season."

The family of the middle school honor student thanked those who helped Difilippo after the incident.

"We truly appreciate the outpouring of concern from all of the players, coaches and families," she said, adding that Mayor Michael Fressola called to express his concern. "Officer Craig from the Manchester Police Department, Quality Medical staff, and the paramedics did an outstanding job and we are grateful."

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