Posted: 09:52, July 9, 2022 | Updated: 09:52, 9 July 2022
Doctors performed a medical miracle to ensure quadriplegic NRL star Nathan Stapleton could be by his wife’s side for the birth of their new son. The former Cronulla Sharks wing-back remains in intensive care months after a rugby tackle gone wrong, but is determined not to miss the special family moment. The Prince of Wales Hospital specially built a mobile intensive care unit to keep Stapleton alive and breathing as he was wheeled alongside the Royal Women’s Hospital. The huge effort allowed Stapleton to be there for wife Katy as she gave birth to their second child on July 1. The 32-year-old this week thanked the two Sydney hospitals for their cooperation and said he was thrilled and excited to be there for the birth. Nathan Stapleton – pictured recovering in intensive care with wife Katy and first son Harry by his side – says he is feeling ‘positive’ despite his life being turned upside down by the accident Stapleton scored 17 tries for Cronulla when he represented the Sharks from 2009 to 2014 “We had him on Friday and everything went really well,” Ms Stapleton told the Daily Telegraph. “Nate got to be at the birth, which was great.” Stapleton was left a quadriplegic after a horror collision during a rugby match left him paralyzed from the shoulders down and requiring a ventilator to breathe. He broke his neck while playing a match at West Wyalong, about 500km west of Sydney, on April 9. The former Sharks star went into cardiac arrest after breaking his neck in the Boorowa Goldies rugby union match, with local nurse Louise McCabe stepping in to give him CPR immediately after the horrific incident. Mrs Stapleton said doctors expected her husband to suffer severe brain damage because he was without oxygen for 16 minutes. But she said she could tell she would bounce back because she knew he recognized her as soon as they closed their eyes afterward. “When it first happened everyone who was there when it happened assumed I was going to Sydney to turn off his life support,” she said. Ms McCabe said she was overwhelmed by the Stapleton family’s response to saving his life. Katy (pictured left with Nathan). He was able to be transferred from the Prince of Wales Hospital to the Royal Women’s Hospital, so he was by his wife’s side for the birth of their second child on July 1. “I certainly feel I saved his life, I recognize that I saved his life and the medical professionals gave me credit,” Ms McCabe said. “Katie called me and thanked me for what I did and said the doctors said if we hadn’t started CPR early, Nathan wouldn’t be here today. “I am very shocked and have asked Nathan’s family to contact me again to thank me.” An appeal was put together on crowdfunding site GoFundMe to help relieve some of the Stapleton family’s financial stress, with more than $170,000 raised.
