Springbok prop Julian Redelinghuys feared that he would be ‘paralysed from the waist down’ after fracturing his neck while in action for the Golden Lions.
Redelinghuys suffered the frightening injury during the Lions’ Currie Cup semi-final, but the quick reactions of the medical team ensured his neck was stabilised before he was rushed to hospital, where he underwent surgery.
The 27-year-old is now on the road to full recovery, but told MyPlayers that it had been an extremely scary few days after sustaining the injury.
‘I remember laying on the field and having this weird feeling. It felt like pins and needles, with a bad burning sensation around my nerves. I couldn’t feel anything on the left side of my body too.
‘After a few medical scans, doctors feared that I would never walk again. They said they’ve seen similar injuries and scans before and many times those victims ended up being paralysed. There were concerns that I’d be paralysed from the waist down.’
Redelinghuys said his recovery could take anything between six weeks to nine months.
‘I’m working hard to get back to full fitness. I’ve already started with a bit of training. However, we’ll just have to monitor my progress during rehab. It depends on how my body reacts to the treatment. So, it’s a waiting game at the moment.’
Photo: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images
