COURTLAND—An injured boy who was taken by helicopter from his little league football practice at Southampton High School on Wednesday is back home and doing fine, according to one of the coaches.

“He’s OK,” said Courtland Indians Coach Doug Vaughan, who declined to give the boy’s name. “He didn’t have any fractures.”

The boy, 12, who plays outside linebacker, was apparently hit while running and landed hard on the ground.

The Courtland Rescue Squad was called in and made the decision to call in the helicopter, Vaughan said.

“I appreciate their quick response,” he said, adding that he also appreciates the calls of concern from other coaches.

Vaughan said the boy was wearing safety gear during practice.

“The equipment that they wear is the safest stuff you can get,” he said.

Vaughan said this is the first time in his 18 years of coaching that a helicopter was needed to evacuate an injured child. He said rescue squads should be on hand at little league games.

“Football is a contact sport,” he said. “This is a good example of why that kind of service is needed.”