Nurse athlete catches injured opponent before she falls in AFLW semi-final
Sydney AFLW player Alexia Hamilton, a trained nurse, caught Piper Dunlop as she lost consciousness and supported her until medical staff arrived.
Why it matters
Hamilton's training and quick thinking almost certainly stopped Dunlop from a harder impact and likely prevented a worse injury. Athlete welfare depends on bystanders knowing basic first aid.
In Australia. Sydney advances to the AFLW preliminary final after just four years in the competition, competing for a spot in the grand final.
Key facts
- GMHBA Stadium
- Stadium
- 5656 fans
- Crowd size
- Sydney won by 3 points
- Match result
- Preliminary final against North Melbourne
- Next for Swans
- Geelong ruck Piper Dunlop collided with Sydney's Tanya Kennedy in the middle of the ground during Saturday's AFLW semi-final at GMHBA Stadium.
- Dunlop tried to play on but stumbled and appeared to lose consciousness.
- Alexia Hamilton is a trained nurse.
- She rushed to Dunlop and caught her before she fell.
- She cushioned her landing while supporting her head.
- Hamilton then rolled Dunlop into the recovery position before medical staff arrived.
- Dunlop was stretchered off to applause from 5656 fans.
- She was awake when taken to hospital for imaging.
- Sydney coach Colin O'Riordan praised Hamilton's instinct.
- Sydney won by three points and advances to the preliminary final against back-to-back premiers North Melbourne.
- This marks the Swans' first preliminary final berth since joining the competition in 2022.
