Fatialofa tells of ‘traumatising’ ordeal
From hearing gunshot victims dying next to him while in hospital, to the realisation he wouldn’t play rugby again – it’s been a rocky few months for Michael Fatialofa.
The former Hurricanes loose forward, who fractured his spine playing for Worcester against Saracens in the English Premiership in January, has broken his silence, revealing what he’s gone through.
A couple of weeks after Fatialofa walked unaided for the first time, which wife Tatiana described as a miracle, Fatialofa told 1 News: ‘‘From my neck down, I couldn’t feel anything or move anything.
‘‘It was pretty scary, and I was really short of breath because, what I did, was the spinal cord was compressed and anything below the spinal cord is affected and that includes my lungs and I was just kinda trying to breathe.’’
Fatialofa spent two weeks in intensive care at London’s St Mary’s Hospital, where he heard things he will struggle to shake from his mind.
‘‘My room-mates were victims of gun violence and stabbings and I could hear everything going on. Just all the beeping and no sleep.
‘‘It’s something I don’t really like thinking about now that I’m past it,’’ he told 1 News.
‘‘I heard some people die next to me. It was quite traumatising. All I could hear was a beeper go off, everyone rush in and then I have a new room-mate the next day.’’
Fatialofa was told to prepare for life in a wheel chair, ending his playing career.
‘‘I was pretty scared,’’ he said. ‘‘I just didn’t want to be a burden to my wife and family. But then I thought I’d just leave it with God and see what happens,’’ he said.
Fatialofa was transferred to a specialist spinal clinic at the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital in Aylesbury, where he has spent the last five weeks.
Doctors are astounded at his aforementioned ability to walk unassisted so soon after the injury.
Fatialofa will remain in the UK to complete his recovery, before returning to New Zealand.