Ex-London Broncos and Cronulla Sharks flyer Nathan Stapleton left paralysed from the shoulders down following horror incident
21st February 2020, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, England; Betfred Super League, Warrington Wolves v Toronto Wolfpack : General Stadium view of the Halliwell Jones Stadium ahead of the game with the Official Betfred Super League Toronto Wolfpack match ball.
Former Cronulla Sharks and London Broncos fullback Nathan Stapleton was delivered some tragic news this morning after being admitted to hospital with a serious injury.
The former Cronulla Sharks flyer has been left a quadriplegic, paralysed from the shoulders down, after a rugby incident gone wrong earlier this month, Fox Sports has revealed.
Stapleton is currently in Royal North Shore Hospital having sustained a serious spinal injury playing country rugby union for Boorowa against West Wyalong last weekend.
During that game, the 32-year-old was said to have caught himself awkwardly in the ruck, with his neck and spine taking the full brunt.
A female nurse who was a spectator at the ground began immediately treating Stapleton, with claims that the player turned blue and so a defibrillator had to be used.
He has since been moved to the spinal unit at Royal North Shore Hospital in St Leonards, with Stapleton now undergoing further spinal tests.
Stapleton remains in a critical condition.
Stapleton played 61 NRL games for the Sharks between 2009 and 2014 and represented the Prime Minister’s XIII in 2012.
He then joined the Sydney Roosters before registering just two appearances for the London Broncos in 2016 who were then in the second tier of UK rugby league.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up with Stapleton’s young family in need.