Former Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon has not given up hope of walking again as he continues his recovery from the spinal chord injury that ended his football career.
The Knights second-rower broke his neck after he was upended in a spear tackle in a match against the Melbourne Storm in March and has since been confined to a wheelchair. But the 22-year-old, who is undergoing rehabilitation at a facility in Ryde, is determined to regain the use of his legs.
“As much as I would love to get home and get back to my family and get back to Newcastle and get back on with my life, I want to walk again,” he said at a press conference today. “You see a lot of stories about people who get on with their lives and don’t walk again. My focus is getting back as much movement as I can and I am slowly improving.
“For example, when I was first diagnosed, I was a C4, and all that is is shoulder movement. Nothing else. I am slowly progressing with my movement. I’m a C7 now.”
Round 19 is the NRL‘s Rise for Alex round, which will see $1 from every ticket sold for the Knights’ home match against the Gold Coast on Sunday donated towards McKinnon’s ongoing recovery costs.
For his part, McKinnon is doing all he can to remain positive. “It (rehabilitation) is going to be a slow process, but I am willing to do that,” he said. “I’m 22 and I’m going to give it my best shot.”
Depending on his progress, McKinnon may travel to the US later in the year for further treatment.
