A young man from Far North Queensland, aged 18, sustained severe injuries in a hit-and-run incident following a rodeo event on Saturday morning.

Authorities are seeking assistance from the public as they pursue the driver who fled the scene.

The victim remains hospitalized as law enforcement continues its inquiry.

Investigators are analyzing surveillance footage from the rodeo in outback Queensland to gather evidence on the hit-and-run that has left Eathan Henry in critical condition.

While leaving the Mount Garnet Rodeo with a companion in the early hours of Saturday, an unidentified vehicle collided with them on the Kennedy Highway, situated approximately 160 kilometers southwest of Cairns.

According to police reports, the driver did not stop following the collision.

Eathan Henry, a member of the Jirrbal community and a passionate rugby league player, has sustained life-threatening injuries.

A family friend, Kara Neugent, expressed concerns about his lengthy recovery ahead.

“We are hoping that the individual responsible for this will do the right thing and come forward,” she stated. “You cannot simply run over someone’s child and leave them behind.”

She added, “[Eathan] understood the dangers linked to drink driving or getting into a vehicle with someone under the influence, which is why he chose to walk, yet he was still struck.”

Currently, Mr. Henry is reported to be in stable condition at Cairns Hospital.

Ms. Neugent highlighted the immense support from the community, medical staff, and Indigenous liaison officers, noting their compassion and understanding of Eathan’s character.

“They’ve shown remarkable empathy and have really connected with him,” she remarked.

His friend incurred only minor injuries but managed to flag down a passing vehicle to summon emergency services.

Eathan, who has been passionate about rugby league since childhood, previously played for the Ravenshoe Tigers juniors and had recently joined a men’s team.

“He cherishes his connection to the land,” Ms. Neugent added. “He often shared his desire to contribute and preserve his culture by passing on stories to younger generations in various communities.”

Authorities are requesting any information regarding the incident.

Detective Acting Inspector Anthony Law stated that efforts are underway to identify the vehicle involved, as well as any individuals or witnesses connected to the incident.

“It would be nearly impossible to have struck those two individuals and not realized it,” he commented. “This is undoubtedly a tragic event for all parties, and now we have a young person whose future has been significantly altered.”

He encouraged anyone who traveled along the Kennedy Highway between Atherton and Mount Garnet between 2:30 AM and 4 AM on May 2 to reach out to the police.

Acting Inspector Law mentioned that dash cam footage from that evening could also aid the investigation, even if it did not directly capture the collision.