Ohio Referee Has Leg Amputated After High School Football Scrimmage Injury: ‘I Was a Mess’

### High School Football Referee Loses Leg in Life-Altering Injury

A high school football referee is presently in recovery after experiencing a catastrophic injury that resulted in the loss of his right leg. Jim Abbott, who has dedicated over three decades to officiating, suffered significant trauma while officiating a football scrimmage at Withrow University High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 14 August.

According to a fundraising campaign established by his family, Abbott was involved in a play when a cornerback, failing to make a tackle, fell on him. This incident caused severe damage to Abbott’s leg, specifically to his right knee, and also affected the artificial joint he had previously received due to an earlier injury.

Medical imaging revealed that Abbott had severed the main artery supplying blood to his lower leg. Following the incident, he was swiftly transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where doctors immediately performed surgery in an effort to stabilise his knee and control the bleeding. Unfortunately, complications arose during the operation, leading to significant blood loss, which necessitated a halt to the procedure until Abbott was stable.

The following morning, medical teams made the heart-wrenching decision to perform an above-the-knee amputation due to a critical lack of blood flow and the inability to repair the damaged veins in his leg. Upon awakening from the surgery, Abbott was unaware that his leg had been amputated. His first questions upon regaining consciousness were directed to his family, asking whether they had been able to save his leg.

“I looked at my sister and my wife, and I said, ‘Becky, did they save the leg?’ And she said, ‘No,’” Abbott recounted in an interview with Local 12 WKRC-TV. He reflected that, ultimately, the choice came down to saving his life or his leg.

Currently, Abbott is undergoing weeks of inpatient physical therapy in preparation for a future prosthetic fitting. His niece, Ashley Sevier, who created the GoFundMe page for him, expressed hope that with time and advanced medical technology, Abbott would be able to return to refereeing, an activity he cherishes deeply.

Describing her uncle’s active lifestyle, Sevier highlighted his love for officiating sports, attending Buckeyes games, and spending quality time with his family and dogs, Mayhem and Havoc, on their family property in Adams County. She confirmed that while Abbott will need to make significant lifestyle adjustments in the foreseeable future, there is optimism among the family for his rehabilitation journey.

The family is acutely aware that this incident will take a toll on them emotionally and financially, as Abbott will be unable to work in the coming months and his wife, Becky, has taken leave from her job to care for him. To support Abbott during this challenging time, the GoFundMe campaign aimed to cover medical expenses resulting from his unexpected journey. Remarkably, the fundraiser has surpassed its initial goal of £30,000, reflecting the community’s support.

Sevier has also encouraged people to consider donating blood, as Abbott received multiple transfusions that, according to medical professionals, were crucial in saving his life. “This will take a large toll on them mentally, physically, emotionally, but also financially. There will most certainly be expenses that arise that we cannot yet anticipate,” she stated.

In closing, Sevier appealed for both support and solidarity: “Lastly, I kindly request you please keep both Jim and Becky (as well as our entire family) in your thoughts and prayers as they learn to navigate this very unexpected journey, and remind them that they aren’t going through it alone.” As the rehabilitation process continues, the Abbott family is hopeful for a brighter future.