Latest news with #spinalinjury
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Promising Gatineau football player paralyzed after diving into a pool
Theodore Côté's life was radically changed after a bad dive at a pool party. The 17-year-old has a long road to recovery and it's not yet known whether he will walk again.
CBC
4 days ago
- CBC
Promising Gatineau football player paralyzed after diving into a pool
Theodore Côté's life was radically changed after a bad dive at a pool party. The 17-year-old has a long road to recovery and it's not yet known whether he will walk again.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ryan Shazier interviews parents during spinal rehabilitation fundraiser
Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier, who suffered a career-ending spinal injury in 2017, led a Lake Shore Country Club fundraiser.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bristol student overcomes severe spinal injury to graduate
A student who suffered a serious spinal injury has graduated with a first-class master's Wills-Johnson, 22, was just a year into his biology degree at the University of Bristol when, halfway through an American football match in 2022, he felt a "big electric shock" course down his right arm, which turned out to be a herniated (damaged) an emergency surgery was successful in stopping the progression of the injury, he still suffers from chronic Wills-Johnson said: "Life will always give you setbacks, but, by showing resilience, you can bounce back from the challenges and make the most of your situation. From rock-bottom, the only way is up." He added: "The doctors told me that, without treatment, the excruciating electric shocks would continue and I could end up paralysed if I risked playing contact sport again. "It was hard to hear, but I had to face the reality of it."Growing up in Gloucestershire, Archie was the first in his family to attend his time at Bristol, Mr Wills-Johnson has achieved a number of academic successes. His third-year project, which mapped the distribution of mammals across Zanzibar, has been written up as a research paper and is under a second round of peer Nick Roberts, head of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol, said: "We are extremely proud to see Archie graduate. "He has demonstrated incredible resilience thought his degree and has helped create such a positive environment in his year group. "He is an inspiration to others, and we wish him all the best for the future."
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Alex McKinnon hits back after copping a stunning snub from his NRL club on a day that brought back stark memories of the game he was paralysed in
Former NRL star Alex McKinnon has lashed out at the treatment he received from the Newcastle Knights when he was left out of a club initiative to help a group that aids people with severe spinal injuries. McKinnon - who was left paralysed by a horrific on-field accident against the Storm in 2014 - watched the Knights slump to their 11th loss of the season when they played Melbourne last Saturday, with the match sure to bring back memories of the night his life changed forever. The one-time backrower sat on the hill at McDonald Jones Stadium, and paid for his own general admission ticket. Newcastle also chose that home game against the Storm to promote a spinal support organisation called Stronger Together. To add to what many fans would see as highly insensitive timing, the club did not ask McKinnon if he wanted to be involved in the initiative with Stronger Together. On Tuesday, McKinnon took to social media to address the 'oversight'. 'I wasn't personally upset by the weekend's events,' he posted on X. 'If anything I found the irony of it being against the Storm a bit funny. It felt like a missed opportunity to connect with the Storm and back a great cause, raising funds and awareness for those living with spinal cord injuries. 'David and Kath from the Stronger Together Foundation are incredible people. I caught up with them on Thursday and knew their charity was the match day partner. 'They kindly asked me to be involved, but I had other commitments. I fully supported them from afar.' 'What disappointed my family (and many who reached out) was the club's lack of communication and awareness. In my view, not reaching out beforehand was an insensitive oversight.' McKinnon said buying tickets wasn't an issue as he loves sitting on the hill with the fans at McDonald Jones Stadium. 'As for the tickets, I regularly buy them for my family to sit on the hill, I have for years,' he wrote. 'I love the game-day experience and sharing it with my kids. I'm a fan.' Last month, it was announced that McKinnon would be taking a big step forward in his new career with healthcare company, Alike Health. The 33-year-old joined the specialist healthcare firm as its Head of Growth and Partnerships, having previously worked with the organisation as a Lived Experience Consultant. The firm revealed that McKinnon's role is now changing within the company, with the former footy player now offering Psychosocial Recovery coaching. 'With a background in Psychological Science, professional sport, and a lived experience of resilience and change, Alex brings genuine understanding and practical support to those navigating psychosocial disability,' Alike wrote on Instagram. In his new role as a Psychosocial Recovery Coach, McKinnon provides support to those suffering from psychosocial disabilities. The role aims to help individuals regain their independence and get back to doing things they enjoy. It came after McKinnon announced earlier this year that he was set to commence a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at the University of Newcastle. He had previously obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. McKinnon, a father-of-three had faced an uncertain future 11 years ago after one of the most shocking incidents in Australian sporting history. McKinnon fractured his C4 and C5 vertebrae in a horror tackle during that game against Melbourne in 2014. He'd played 49 NRL games before tragedy struck - and as he later revealed, he knew as soon as he hit the ground that his life was about to change forever. 'I knew straight away,' he told ABC journalist Stan Grant in 2020. 'I remember hearing the noise, I remember trying to move but not being able to, I remember players surrounding me and looking at me - clear conversations, I could hear everything. 'I really just felt embarrassed ... I suppose it takes you back to being a man and what your identity is there - strong, unflappable, unwavering - I just felt that it was embarrassing that I was laying there, unable to move, and I just felt like a real failure.' He would later split from wife Teigan Power in 2022, but has found love again with new partner Lily Malone. The pair are understood to have started dating while the 33-year-old was studying at university.
