A young footballer has overcome enormous obstacles after being paralysed by a tackle just minutes into a rugby league match.
Lincon Goard, 17, was playing for the Binnaway Bombshells Rugby League Club in Narromine, near Dubbo in central-west New South Wales, on July 20 when his life changed in an instant.
The teenager “heard a crack” as he was tackled by two opponents and immediately lost all feeling and movement in his limbs just seven minutes into the match.
A doctor and an off-duty police officer rushed to the field and helped stabilize Lincoln while they waited for an hour in the cold for an ambulance.
An MRI confirmed that the apprentice worker had fractured his C4 vertebra and dislocated his C5 spinal cord.
He was then airlifted to Sydney’s Royal North Hospital where he underwent a marathon six-hour surgery to artificially replace his vertebrae and correct the dislocation.
Lincon slowly woke up from an induced coma and surprised doctors by being able to slightly move his left leg and arm.
‘Doctors told Lincoln that one in a million patients in his condition and with his injury doesn’t progress like he has,’ his mother Nicole said. 7News.
Young footballer Lincon Goard (right) has made huge strides on a long road to recovery after being paralysed just minutes into a rugby league match.
Lincon’s miraculous recovery continued after five days of rehabilitation at RNSH as he slowly began to walk.
Although he has continued to make progress and surprise his doctors, the damage to his nervous system will still take a long time to recover.
“He’s very determined and he’s only 17, so it’s like his life is about to take off, he really wants to get back to square one,” his mother said.
He added that Lincoln is determined to continue progressing and has already asked when he will be able to return to the field.
The teenager lost all feeling and movement in his limbs but was able to slowly begin walking after a six-hour surgery to replace one vertebra and fix another that was dislocated.
TO GoFundMe Initiated by a family friend, Lincon revealed he had just completed his HGV mechanic apprenticeship with his father Mark.
“Lincon and Mark are the only employees of this business and therefore its operation is obsolete for the foreseeable future,” the page reads.
‘Lincon is determined to return to work in the future and can’t wait to get home and hang out with his friends and drive his beloved truck.’
The GoFundMe campaign to support the family while they are unable to work has received more than $5,000 in just over five days.