- Gutsy new update has been posted to social media
Rugby league player Jacek McLaurin has given his followers a raw update and promised he will walk again less than two months after being left paralysed from the shoulders down in a horror footy accident.
The 26-year-old rising star landed on his head during a Queensland Cup trial match when a tackle went wrong in February, leaving him in a coma for 10 days.
But he has since taken to Instagram in a clip recorded from his hospital bed to lift the lid on how his recovery is going.
‘I did my C4-C5 dislocation and exploded the disc in between, and damaged my spinal cord, which left me paralysed from the shoulders down,’ McLaurin said.
‘This is day 50 in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). It’s quite hard to really fathom or understand when something like this happens.
‘Obviously it’s been a very tough journey so far. It’s just one thing after another when you’re in places like this.
Jacek McLaurin (pictured) has taken to social media in order to provide an update on his health as he remains in hospital with a serious spinal injury
The footy star (pictured) was involved in a horrific on-field incident which saw him rushed to hospital and put in a coma for 10 days
‘Sometimes you’ll go to bed thinking that was the hardest day of your life. Then the next day you wake up and it is the new hardest day of your life.
‘I’ve got a long way to go. Hopefully I get out of ICU this week coming, and we’re looking at going overseas to seek treatment from high levels of different types of medicine.
‘I’ll keep fighting the good fight and I’ll be back on my feet eventually.’
The Burleigh player was attended to by medical officials at the Piggabeen Sports Complex before being airlifted to Brisbane for emergency treatment.
McLaurin’s recent update has been met with numerous messages of support from some of Australian sport’s biggest stars.
‘Keep fighting brother, we’re all behind you ! Praying for you and I’m sure God is with you throughout your journey,’ injured Melbourne Storm star Eli Katoa wrote.
‘Love ya brother stay strong,’ former NSW Origin player Todd Carney added.
‘Keep fighting brother,’ Brisbane Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs said.
McLaurin (pictured) was representing the Burleigh Bears when the terrible accident occurred
The 26-year-old (pictured) has played in the popular Nines Premier League tournament
‘Much love brother,’ said former Wallabies fly half Quade Cooper.
Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was also among the big names to wish McLaurin well.
McLaurin had only recently signed for the Bears from The Entrance Tigers during the off-season.
The outside back is also regularly seen playing in the Nines Premier League, having won the tournament with the Southern Sharks in 2023.
McLaurin’s post has garnered more than 53,000 likes and 2900 comments.
