Man charged with attempted murder after rugby player attacked with claw hammer

Matthew Probert is 'lucky to be alive' after being struck

A 22-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after a promising rugby player was attacked and left with a claw hammer stuck in his head.

Matthew Probert, 21, from Scunthorpe, is "lucky to be alive" after being struck with the hammer during a night out in Lincoln at the weekend.

An image posted on Twitter showed the claw embedded in his forehead above his eye.

Door staff are said to have kept Mr Probert awake before he was taken to hospital to have the hammer removed.

Mr Probert's girlfriend, Elisha Davis, reportedly thanked people for their messages of support on Facebook.

Her sister Tara said: "He is lucky to be alive - I can't believe it."

A 22-year-old local man has been charged with attempted murder following the incident, Lincolnshire Police said.

Kris James Bradley, from Lincoln, will appear at Lincoln Magistrates' Court later.

Probert, a first team loose head prop for Scunthorpe Rugby Club, was attacked at around 12.50am on Sunday morning in Hungate, Lincoln.

He was taken to Lincoln County Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, where, after undergoing surgery, his condition has been described as stable.

A spokesman for Scunthorpe Rugby Club confirmed today that he is one of their players but declined to comment further.

PA