Tuesday, 3 June 2014

He"s able to swallow and eat ice cream: Teenage rugby league player Curtis ...


  • Curtis Landers broke the c2 and c3 vertebrae in his neck on May 24

  • He has been in a serious condition at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital

  • 15-year-old moved from his bed to a wheelchair on Tuesday to go outside

  • Spent time with Knights player Alex McKinnon recovering from same injury

  • He has had breathing tubes removed and started swallowing on his own


By

Emily Crane

and Freya Noble



Published:


06:03, 3 June 2014




|
Updated:


13:47, 3 June 2014




The first photo of a 15-year-old who broke his neck in a tackle during a junior rugby league match last month has emerged, showing him sitting up in a wheelchair in hospital.


Curtis Landers, who fractured his C2 and C3 vertebrae on May 24, moved from his bed to a wheelchair on Tuesday so he could spend time on a verandah at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital.


The teenager also spent some time with Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon, who suffered an almost idential injury earlier in the year.


Curtis Landers (left) spent some time with Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon (right) on Tuesday, as the young men are being treated in hospital for very similar injuries to their necks


Curtis Landers (left) spent some time with Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon (right) on Tuesday, as the young men are being treated in hospital for very similar injuries to their necks



Just two months ago, Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon, 22, fractured his c4 and c5 vertebrae.


He is staying on the floor below Curtis at the hospital.


Curtis is making small steps towards getting better, and is now swallowing and eating ice cream on his own as he recovers from his severe injuries.


The Facebook page set up to support Curtis also revealed he was ‘eating more and more and there was slight movement in his legs today.’


He had breathing tubes removed and started swallowing on his own on Saturday.


‘Curt’s making good progress. After the speech therapist helped him to swallow, he’s been eating soft foods, in particular ice cream,’ the Curtis Landers Facebook page posted last night.


Curtis Landers, 15, fractured two vertebrae in his neck when he made a tackle during a junior rugby league game at Port Macquarie on May 24


Curtis Landers, 15, fractured two vertebrae in his neck when he made a tackle during a junior rugby league game at Port Macquarie on May 24



Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon suffered a serious injury to his neck during a game in March, and is still in hospital


Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon suffered a serious injury to his neck during a game in March, and is still in hospital






‘Today, was a big step to get him out of bed and into a wheelchair. He spent half an hour on the verandah and enjoyed the fresh air.


‘His voice is also getting stronger.’


Curtis has been in a serious but stable condition in hospital since he was flown from Port Macquarie to undergo surgery following the freak accident.


He has received immense support from community groups in his suburb of Forster and across NSW in the past few weeks.


Junior league, touch and soccer teams wore arm bands during their games over the weekend as a sign of support for Curtis


Junior league, touch and soccer teams wore arm bands during their games over the weekend as a sign of support for Curtis



His Forster Tuncurry Junior Rugby League Club has set up the The Curtis Landers Appeal to raise funds for his hospital bills and recovery.


Junior league, touch and soccer teams wore arm bands during their games over the weekend as a sign of support for Curtis.


 Curtis, who is said to have a bright future in the NRL, has also received support from Channel Nine’s The Footy Show and radio personality Ray Hadley.




Curtis has been in a serious but stable condition in hospital since he was flown from Port Macquarie to undergo surgery following the freak accident


Curtis has been in a serious but stable condition in hospital since he was flown from Port Macquarie to undergo surgery following the freak accident





Aaron Temple, president of Curtis’ football club Forster-Tuncurry Hawks, told MailOnline last month that his stint in hospital would be long-term.


‘He’s looking at 12 months in hospital,’ he said.


Curtis’ parents, Kevin and Marie, are understood to be struggling with news of their son’s accident.


‘His father is just beside himself. They did everything together, they were very close. They are taking it very tough,’ Mr Temple said.


For more information on the Curtis Landers Appeal, visit: www.juniorhawks.com.au.


His Forster Tuncurry Junior Rugby League Club has set up the The Curtis Landers Appeal to raise funds for his hospital bills and recovery


His Forster Tuncurry Junior Rugby League Club has set up the The Curtis Landers Appeal to raise funds for his hospital bills and recovery











Comments (1)


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Sarah T,


Sydney Australia,


13 hours ago


Good Luck Curtis with your recovery. I wish you all the best and will be praying that you get better every day!

Hugs to your parents.. And really wonderful to see Alex offering support to Curtis..All the best to both of you!



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