EX-NRL star toasts breathing boost
NATHAN Stapleton says he’s looking forward to eating a steak and drinking a beer after he took a major step in his recovery by breathing without the help of a machine.
Injured badly in a scrum gone wrong while playing rugby union for Boorowa last month, the former NRL winger is tackling his recovery with the same vigour as he played rugby league during his 61 games for Cronulla.
Stapleton, 32, was left a quadriplegic and is still in intensive care at Sydney’s North Shore Hospital.
Stapleton’s sister in-law Kirstie Appler revealed the former NRL player had begun breathing on his own.
“Nath is slowly but surely weaning off ventilator-assisted breathing,” Appler said in a statement.
“He does ‘sprint training’ in which he breathes completely on his own for increasingly longer periods of time.
“It’s a very slow process but Nathan is as determined as ever. Once Nathan is off the ventilator, he will be able to breathe, speak and eat normally which are the most immediate goals. Nath said he is looking forward to a few beers and a T-bone steak.”
Stapleton injured his spinal cord while playing for Boorowa at West Wyalong on April 9.
“It is hard to believe that it has been more than five weeks since the accident,” Appler said.
“This weekend we were able to spend some time outside with the help of Nathan’s wonderful nurses and a portable ventilator!
“There is nothing like fresh air and sunshine after five weeks in a hospital room.”