EFL 2019: The Basin footballer Mitch Rule on the road to recovery

A footballer from The Basin is on the road to recovery, four months after he broke his neck in a freak on-field accident.

Mitch Rule collects the ball for The Basin. Picture: Davis Harrigan

The Basin footballer Mitch Rule has taken a significant step in his recovery from a broken neck.

Rule had his neck brace removed earlier this month after an on-field bump on April 27 in the EFL Division 2 clash against Ringwood.

The 25-year-old was left with a fractured C6 and narrowly avoided becoming a quadriplegic, but he is expected to make a full recovery.

He is slowly returning to living an everyday life.

Rule is allowed to drive again and the keen surfer is hoping soon catch some waves again and start running.

Mitch Rule moments after the bump that left him with a broken neck. Picture: Davis Harrigan

He has also returned to university, where he will complete his teaching degree later this year.

“It’s nice to slowly be able to get back into doing things again,” Rule said.

“I just have to take it easy still.”

Rule has been housebound since the incident but he has been going to The Basin games most weeks.

“That’s about the only thing I’ve been doing,” he said.

“Everyone is obviously very supportive down there and wants the best for me and it’s been easy to get lifts there or whatever I’ve wanted to do.”

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But he said he had not considered whether he would return to playing.

“I haven’t really thought it much to be honest,” he said.

“I’ve got to worry about getting a job next year before I think about footy.”

A GoFundMe page raised more than $10,000 for Rule’s recovery.

Opposition clubs donated to the page, and Ringwood’s committee and players also reached out to him.

Mitch Rule during his recovery.

The broken bone in his neck is still healing and Rule said he was looking forward to making a full recovery.

“It’s been tough. I’ve been very bored and was just sick of sitting at home but it is what it is,” he said.

“I’m feeling a lot better now so that’s the main thing.”

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