Penrith has been shocked and saddened by the death of club legend John Farragher.
Farragher played just seven games for the Panthers before tragedy struck in a game in Newtown in 1978.
The bush boy from Gilgandra was in the front row of a scrum that collapsed, bodies piling on his neck.
He became a quadriplegic at just 21, spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
“I was on the sideline that day, out injured, and will never forget it,” former Panthers player and coach Tim Sheens told Wide World of Sports.
“Our boys were just shattered. They knew straight away just how serious it was and an ambulance eventually came onto the field and took him to hospital – and that was that.”
The Penrith community embraced Farragher after his tragic accident.
He got a job at the club as a doorman, greeting patrons in his wheelchair with a smile and a wave for more than 40 years.
In recent years, he won a spot on the club’s board before suffering a heart attack last week.
He never recovered and died on Sunday, aged 68.
Sheens said he left the game a lasting legacy.
“Up until his accident clubs had very primitive first-aid equipment,” Sheens said.
“But John’s accident was a wake-up call and all clubs were issued with up-to-date stretchers and other such gear just in case a similar incident occurred.
“His was a very sad story but he always remained positive and had a smile on his face whenever he saw players and fans.
“This will be one of the biggest funerals Penrith has ever seen.”
