A 24-year-old Silsden man has died after being injured in an amateur rugby league game earlier this month.

Chris Brown, a prop forward for Silsden Park Rangers, hit his head on the ground while playing against Meltham All Blacks at Silsden Park on September 5.

He had been competing for the first time after a two-year absence due to work commitments.

He was initially substituted, but rejoined the game in the second half.

However, after developing a severe headache he left the pitch a second time and collapsed at the scene shortly afterwards. He never regained consciousness and died on Wednesday last week at Leeds General Infirmary.

His parents, Steve and Linda Brown, said he was a big character with a great sense of humour.

The couple had been alerted to the fact that their son was hurt and they made it to the pitch only 10 minutes after he collapsed.

His two younger brothers were watching the game.

On reaching Airedale Hospital, doctors quickly determined he had suffered internal bleeding in his head.

He was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary and operated on overnight.

His father said: “The doctors were very honest – they knew there was not a lot of hope for Chris.”

Mrs Brown said: “The care he had [in hospital] was out of this world. Even if you think of the best, it was better than that.”

Chris, who was often called “Browny” by his friends, lived in Silsden and installed bedroom furniture for a living.

He was a former pupil of South Craven School at Cross Hills and a keen Sunderland Football Club fan. He had also played rugby for Keighley Cougars Cubs.

His parents said at the time of his injury that his sister was heavily pregnant.

Two days before his death she gave birth to a baby boy in the same hospital where Mr Brown was being treated. His mother said her son’s friends had been immensely loyal and supportive.

She said they wanted his funeral to be like a “goodbye party”.

A remembrance page, called “Thinking of you Chris Brown”, has been set up on the Facebook social networking site.

The page’s introduction states: “His family wants his life to be celebrated and remembered for his 24 years of great happiness he gave us all. Please no condolence cards, his life is to be celebrated.”

An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned.

His funeral service takes place at 2pm tomorrow (Friday) at St James’s Parish Church, in Silsden.