NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS forward Ed Jackson has described the moment he was pulled from a swimming pool by his father and a friend with no feeling in his legs and arms after a freak accident.
The 28-year-old, who has also played for Bath, Wasps and London Welsh, hit his head off the bottom of the pool at a friend’s barbecue on 8 April.
He was rushed to hospital in Bristol and underwent emergency surgery, with the injury leaving him with no feeling below his neck other than limited movement in his right arm.
In a post on his Facebook page, Jackson said:
“On the 8th April at a family friends BBQ I dived into the shallow end of a swimming pool. After hitting my head on the bottom I realised I couldn’t swim to the surface because I’d lost movement in my legs and power in my arms. My dad (a retired GP) and friend Daffyd immediately knew something was wrong, pulled me to the surface and stabilised me in the pool until the ambulance came.
“I was transferred to Southmead Hospital with a fracture dislocation at the C6/7 joint. After a number of MRI scans and X-Rays the Drs decided to operate at 2am to stabilise my neck as pressure was being put on my spinal cord. In surgery they removed my shattered disc, relocated my vertebrae and fixed it in place with a metal plate.
https://www.facebook.com/edjackson8/photos/a.1766512373659924.1073741828.1766501013661060/1766512393659922/?type=3&theater
“I woke up in ICU, luckily completely coherent, however no feeling below my neck other than limited movement in my right arm.
“You never think this shit is ever going to happen to you, but it did, now I’ve got to deal with it. This is my road to recovery…”
Jackson joined Guinness Pro12 side Dragons from Wasps in 2015 and has made 36 appearances for the Welsh region.
The English number eight signed a contract extension with Dragons last December to keep him at Rodney Parade until 2019.
At the time of the accident, the club said in a statement Jackson’s injury was ‘non-rugby related’.
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Well seeing as they last won the english leauge some 28 years ago and have a tendency to sell there best strikers, why wouldn’t I think that,
@Jonathan Byrne:
I have never seen so much hype about a team who have won nothing ,are 20 points off winning their league, have again sold their best player mid season , and who all other teams in the last 4 of a cup competition wanted desperately to draw. No league title for nearly 30 years and just one 1 trophy in ten years same as the likes of Wigan. Am i missing something ??
@Joe O’riordan: missing nothing absolutely spot on
@Joe O’riordan: Missing something? Don’t think so, unless its your MU jersey and scarf.
@Joe O’riordan: Coutinho their best player? Liverpool are better without him
@Joe O’riordan: Liverpool didn’t sell Salah mid season?
Who knows next year might be there year they win the premier league…….. Pfffft. Salah will playing for real Madrid next aswell.
@Jonathan Byrne: best of luck with that
@Jonathan Byrne: haha nice try, at least the pool have a player that Real or Barca would want!
@Jonathan Byrne: Jeez those grapes are very sour…
@Jonathan Byrne: “Somebody please give me attention” – The Comment
@seancreaven13: I’m just laying down some facts, fair play to getting to the semis of the champions leauge this year, but I don’t think its sour grapes if what I say is true.
But but but didn’t they win the finishing above Utd trophy last year !!!
@powerfix: doesn’t carry the same prestige anymore.
@Mick Power: ou snap!
@Mick Power: aah you know it does Mick
@Carl Johnson: ou Marcus!
Well what seems to be emerging now is defending is much better, there was no evidence until now. If they can keep best players, add GK/defensive cover and with Keita coming in they will make PL challenge. I was surprised MU slipped yesterday, it seems they struggle more than LFC in breaking defensives down. With JM near 3 years he has to challenge next year but somehow I don’t see it. Yes they defend well but have ordinary attack.
For me the top 3 teams next year will be MC, Tot & LFC. MU should be there but JM would need dynamic players and changes his approach. I don’t see that happening. If they back him in transfer market he’ll get a final go using his methods. While he maintains its not that long ago he won PL I think football is now being dominated by more attacking dynamic teams.
@Nick Leone: so coming to the end of your second season is near 3 years ???? Pass the dutchie round will ya