'I had to learn to walk again after a student rugby injury'

A student rugby player who broke his neck and spinal cord in a match has praised the "world-class" care in Sheffield that helped him to walk again.

Harry Bartlett, 21, was playing for the University of Liverpool against the University of Sheffield in December when he was injured going in for a tackle and left unconscious.

It took two operations at the Northern General before he was able to walk out of the hospital on 28 April and he has since continued his recovery.

Bartlett said: "Walking out was pretty special. I'm 21 so I didn't want to let what happened ruin the rest of my life. The care I received was truly world-class from start to finish."

Bartlett grew up in Northamptonshire, where he played for local rugby clubs Brackley and Daventry.

Recalling the university match away to Sheffield, he said: "I just went in for a tackle and got my head on the wrong side of someone's hip.

"I was lying on my side and I couldn't get back up. Nothing was happening so I thought it was serious."

The economics student was taken to A&E and had a CT and MRI scan where it was discovered that he had a broken vertebrae in the neck and a spinal cord injury.

The next day, he underwent the first of two surgeries to decompress his spinal cord and stabilise his spine before being admitted to intensive care, where he stayed for 35 days.

After developing pneumonia in hospital, he was placed in an induced coma to allow his body to rest, after which he had to get back to breathing by himself again.

"Coming out of the coma they weighed me and I'd lost 15kg, I was pale and skinny and looked ill. I usually worked out a lot in the gym so it was tough to see," he said.

Intensive rehab followed in the spinal injuries centre where he relearned how to sit, stand, walk and write.

Despite the severity of his injuries and the uncertainty about his future, from the moment he arrived at the Northern General Hospital, Bartlett described the care as "outstanding".

"The care in ICU was truly incredible. They were on top of everything and I knew they just wanted the best for me and were looking after me.

"The respiratory team were also amazing - they were called numerous times during the night and were always there."

Five months after arriving in hospital, Bartlett said the moment he walked out was an "emotional one", especially for his parents.

Although he has had to retire from rugby, he plans to maintain his fitness with running and swimming, and will return to university next year to complete his degree.

He added: "I've been playing rugby since I was four or five, so it was a shock to hear that I shouldn't play contact sport ever again, because it's been a big part of my life.

"After what happened, being able to continue living a normal, active life is the most important thing."

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