‘Miracle I walked out of hospital’ after broken neck

James Newton might be forgiven for thinking that watching Whitehaven take on Warrington Wolves in the Super League on Saturday makes sense.

However, having the freedom to watch a rugby league game will seem like a victory in itself for Newton.

After fracturing his neck in a game against the Halifax Panthers in September, he feared becoming paralyzed.

The injury occurred in the final game of a difficult season. Newton, the captain of the Hagan, tackled someone as often as he had done throughout his career.

But this time something wasn’t right. His head connected with his opponent’s hip bone but, in Newton’s words, he had made ‘ 100 or 200 worse tackles in his career’.

He quickly began to experience some neck pain and lightheadedness.

The hooker realized this was not a typical injury as he was being carried off the field on a stretcher.

He was taken to a Whitehaven hospital for a CT scan, but the news wasn’t good.

“I could tell from the doctors ‘ faces that something was not right”, he told BBC Sport.

At that point, Newton began to worry. He was informed that he needed to be transported across to Tyneside as a matter of urgency when his medical records came back from the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

One unwanted movement could have caused paralysis, so it was necessary to be strapped up even more.

“I know I’m supposed to be a big, strong rugby player but when there is talk of being paralysed, your emotions totally flip”, he said.

“Those 22 hours were an emotional rollercoaster. I eventually realized I had strained a neck muscle, was paralyzed, and was never able to walk again. I then realized I had a long way to recover and be limited to what you can and can’t do in life.

Before he switched to a Miami J collar, a special halo brace was permanently inserted into his head and neck for more than two months.

That was only removed on Tuesday. Things we normally overlook, like glancing our neck in the direction of the sun, suddenly return to his radar.

And Newton’s rehabilitation program will only now be able to expand with this additional freedom of movement.

He will begin daily six-hour sessions at his Cumbria home on Monday, before a second CT scan in two months will give him a clearer idea of what the future holds.

It’s very difficult when you switch from being a really active person to being completely passive, Newton said.

Most people would be put to the test for sanity after weeks of being glued to Netflix and daytime television, but that’s where the rugby league family came in.

The benevolent fund of rugby league players and former players, Rugby League Cares, provided valuable support and money to cover Newton’s girlfriend and mother’s expenses while he was in a Newcastle hospital and for ongoing expenses related to his rehabilitation.

Since Newton has been flooded with messages and visits from fans of the sport, the phone and doorbell have been ringing constantly.

Newton has been contacted by former team-mates, former Super League and Championship coaches, and former team-managers to make sure he is not alone.

He said, “I’ve had people from all over the world call or text me.”

There have been no shortage of people who have driven up to my house to grab a cup of coffee and chat. That’s really appreciated.

“When you feel so vulnerable and alone, to have that support, it’s great.

In the meantime, Newton will be on the walkie-talkie on Saturday in his role as assistant coach to Anthony Murray for League 1 Whitehaven’s big Challenge Cup fourth-round tie.

He will be entertained while he considers his intended return to the field for the time being.

And he will make the most of every positive attitude to overcome the challenges.

The professional sportsman in him is fueled by the desire to continue playing until the end of the chapter after recovering from an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury at the age of 30 and being dismissed by some.

The ultimate goal for me is to “play rugby league once more,” he continued. “I’ve set some goals in my rehab.”

” I’ll do everything I can to try to get to that stage, but I also have to be realistic.

“What’s happened to me, the severity of the injury, what could have been… as I have the rest of my life to think about.