An eighth-grader in Wisconsin is recovering after being partially impaled by a splintered floorboard on a basketball court.
The teen from Wisconsin Heights was injured while diving for a ball with another player Sunday evening at a tournament.
She stopped while sliding on the floor "like she ran into a wall," tournament organizer Perry Hibner told NBC Chicago. The girl had been partially impaled by a floorboard.
"It’s a unique thing. It’s a fluke. It’s like someone being struck by lighting and winning the Powerball at the same time," Hibner explained.
The piece of wood was 3 to 4 inches long, and a quarter to a half inch penetrated the teen's skin on the right side of her lower abdomen, just above her hip, Hibner said.
Some 200 spectators watched the scene unfold, including the girl's parents, one of whom was a coach on the team, according to Hibner.
The injured player was helped by a spectator who happened to be a doctor, Hibner said.
Hibner said the teen's mom emailed her Tuesday saying the girl underwent exploratory surgery Sunday night to make sure no splinters were left in her body.
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She was released from the hospital Monday morning, Hibner said. The family hopes she can play this weekend at another tournament.
