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TIGERS CLUB NEWS ARCHIVE
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Bad luck strikes inspirational new Tiger
3rd March 2005
If the Tigers Club ever wanted inspiration they only have to turn
to newcomer this season, 16 year old Daniel Cuttiford.
 Unfortunately,
Daniel received horrific burns to most of the lower part of his body in
a camping accident in the Kangaroo Valley recently and is now in the intensive
care unit of the Concord Hospital Burns Unit.
Doctors are hopeful of a full recover after using the latest in medical
science to cover his wounds – Transcyte – which basically is
a dressing which has human cells woven throughout and then covers the
burned area. If the dressing (costing some $30,000) is successful there
will be no need for any skin grafts. Doctors of the Concord Burns Unit
will know the results of the dressing by early next week but positive
signs are developing for the youngster after what can only be described
as an horrendous ordeal which included urgent evacuation by the Snowy
Hydro SouthCare helicopter after the incident.
Dan joined the Tigers earlier this season from Bathurst following in
the footsteps of current Administration Manager and senior grade player
Jordan Longmore.
Last years Under 18 Grade Best and Fairest winner, Joe Sibly also hails
from the Bathurst region which is a strong recruitment area for the Tigers
Club. Former Tiger and now Marketing Manager of Tennis Darwin, Sean Barrett
also joined the Tigers some years ago from Bathurst.
Daniel decided midway last season to transfer to the Queanbeyan Tigers
and over the summer months worked tirelessly to find accommodation, transfer
to a new school (Karabar High – many of Dan’s team mates also
attend Karabar) and develop his personal skills and fitness for the next
step in his football career. He had been a member of the NSW ACT Development
Squads training in Sydney on a regular basis.
Club Officials visited Dan last Tuesday and presented him with his playing
jumper for Season 2005 signed by team mates and officials and all were
mighty impressed with his attitude.
Whilst disappointed with possibly missing the majority if not all of the
2005 Season he is keen to be involved once a full recovery is made in
coming months, albeit by being a runner for the Under 18 Grade team.
He joked with officials about the history book the Club forwarded to him
late last week with the title being “Tiger Tiger Burning Bright”
and of his mum who brought him some carrots and tomatoes to eat along
with, of all things, four potato peelers! His comment - “don’t
ask”. And what of the nurses? “There pretty nice, oh there is
one real nice looking one, haven’t seen her for a while, can’t
wait until she comes back”.
Tigers Club Officials have organised for a prominent Sydney Swans player
to visit Daniel sometime this week and are obviously keen to assist Daniel
and his family in what is hoped to be a full recovery for the youngster
who loves his footy.
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