FORMER Wallaby Brendan Cannon accidentally ran over his 15-month-old son in the driveway of his Brisbane home yesterday.

Samuel Cannon was fighting for his life in Brisbane's Royal Children's Hospital last night. He suffered internal injuries and two broken legs when he was struck by the family four-wheel-drive.

Brendan Cannon. Credit:Getty

"I've accidentally run over the little guy. He's on life support, the situation is critical," Cannon (pictured) was reported as saying. The former hooker, who played 42 Tests for Australia between 2001-2006, said his youngest child walked to the car when he saw his siblings, Joseph, 5, and Phoebe, 3, get into it with their father. Cannon said he had a narrow driveway and had been concentrating on reversing out of the gate.

Australian Rugby Union chief John O'Neill told The Sun-Herald last night: "The entire rugby community is feeling for Brendan and his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them."

Former Wallaby prop Dan Crowley said: "It's terrible. He's a champion bloke; he'll be beside himself."

The tragedy has eerie parallels to the case of another former Wallaby hooker, Phil Kearns, who ran over his 19-month-old daughter in his driveway in 2005. Andie recovered after a month in hospital, prompting her father to launch a driveway safety campaign.