By TOM HAYES

 

THORPDALE coach and ex-Bomber Jason Winderlich has spoken to the Herald Sun about the life-threatening injury.

On August 3, Winderlich was flown to the Alfred Hospital from Thorpdale Recreation Reserve after sustaining a broken neck in two places and spinal cord damage.

It was reported that during the second quarter of the Mid Gippsland match between Thorpdale and Toora in Round 16, Winderlich received contact at the top of his head, which contacted the chest of his opponent, leaving him motionless on the field.

Winderlich was not moved from the ground until 4.30pm.

“Initially when it happened, it (movement) was gone,” Winderlich told the Herald Sun.

A trainer held the head of a scared and upset Winderlich for 10 to 15 minutes, then one of his teammates took over for an hour and 20 minutes until the helicopter arrived.

The 39-year-old tried to lift his head, as he was unsure what was happening with the rest of his body.

Winderlich told the Herald Sun that the doctors didn’t guarantee him anything when he was to wake up.

“That’s why it was pretty scary at the start,” he said.

Tributes flowed on social media for Winderlich, wishing him the best and hoping that he would pull through, after fears he would become a paraplegic.

The weeks following surgery have been held tight within his family as a private matter, until Winderlich posted an update of himself to social media with a neck brace. His post came after weeks of rehabilitation at the Epworth, the Herald Sun reported.

“I’d spend a few hours during the night worrying about what was going to happen,” Winderlich said.

“A day after the surgery, my wife downloaded a heap of stuff for meditating, and I’d meditate for four to six hours and get good vibes.

“I started wiggling my toes and then I could wiggle a couple of my fingers a couple of millimetres after about 10 days. As soon as I could get myself on the edge of the hospital bed I started trying to stand up. I wanted to get on with it and get better, and I am.”

Winderlich currently wears a splint on his right leg to keep his foot at a 90 degree angle, keeping him from falling over. He is trying to rebuild the strength, flexion and mobility in his legs so he can lift them.

“The messages are going down there, but at the moment it’s just not doing it as well as it should,” Winderlich said.

He also said he was on medication for nerve pain that ran all the way down his right arm.

He said he was “feeling lucky”, knowing his injury could have been worse.

Winderlich thanked his followers on Instagram, which was then followed by hundreds of messages from AFL identities and fans alike, telling the Herald Sun he felt overwhelmed with the support.

Winderlich returned to his home club last season to take up the coaching job alongside childhood mate Ray Pickering.