Former New Milton RFC player and Lymington resident Errol Carter suffers paralysis after collapsing during international rugby debut for Turkey
A former New Milton RFC player and Lymington resident who collapsed suddenly during a rugby game has been left with paralysis.
Errol Carter has spent the last month in hospital, and it is hoped that a crowdfunding effort will help him get the rehabilitation he needs.
The ex-New Milton first-team player, who came through the youth ranks, left to play rugby league before returning to union where his injury happened during his international debut for Turkey.
Carter, whose paralysis is due to a rare condition called cauda equina syndrome, said: “I experienced paralysis in my legs whilst running. I lost all sensation, strength and feeling in my lower body, resulting in me collapsing.
“I have spent more than a month in hospital and have had two emergency spinal surgeries on my lower back. Both surgeries had the primary goal of limiting the risk of permanent paralysis.
“Whilst the operations were thought to be successful, I have suffered permanent nerve and neurological damage that will affect me and my quality of living for the rest of my life – one of them being my dependence on a catheter.”
The former Brockenhurst College student is expected to remain in the hospital for two to three months, while the NHS aftercare rehab waiting times are around 15 months, hence the fundraising.
“I want to get back to normal and then continue my rugby career,” he said. “I am far from finished.
“I am a very proud and independent person; however, as time has passed, the realisation and severity of my injury have sunk in. I now realise for me to have the best chance of recovering, I need the help of others.”
Carter described the moment he collapsed: “During the game, I was passed the ball and started to sprint when both legs collapsed underneath me. I lost all strength, control and sensation.
“The sensation did come back, but I had immense pain in my lower back and legs, as well as the numbing sporadically returning to both legs at different intensities.
“I played the remainder of the game as we had no substitutions left, and I was unaware of how serious the injury was.
“I flew back to the UK the next day, where this got worse and spread to my genitals. I phoned 999 and was told to go to Kings College Hospital in London as soon as possible.”
An MRI showed he had a prolapsed disc, and the vertebrae were out of place, causing pressure on his spine and the nerves, and he was rushed in for emergency surgery.
He learned to walk again, but within 12 hours of being discharged his health rapidly declined, with the onset of new symptoms, including numbness of groin, legs and feet, and the loss of sensation and strength in his lower limbs.
A second emergency spinal surgery followed, leaving Carter unable to move for the first eight days and bedbound for 11 days due to the pain.
Carter added: “The numbness and weakness in my legs has increased. I am at a point where I am putting weight through my feet, which causes immense neurological pain.
“It’s like daggers in my feet, shooting up my legs, followed by intense pins and needles in my feet and legs for hours after the pressure.
“I am told you get used to this over time, but it could get better – there is no knowing when or if it will recover, and this will be present as I learn to walk and move again."
Cauda equina syndrome is thought to affect around six in a million people.
The rehabilitation sessions are expected to cost between £4,160 and £7,280 a year.
Carter will receive statutory sick pay, amounting to £16.68 a day.
He concluded: "That won't even come close to scratching the surface of my outgoings such as housing, utilities, bills and food – the bare essentials.
"It has left me in financial difficulty at the time I need it the most to pay for my health and rehabilitation.
"Any donations, no matter how big or small, collectively will make a big difference, as will sharing my story."
To read more about Errol's story or donate, visit rb.gy/f069ma
