Spencer Wadsworth says he doesn’t remember the incident that has changed his life forever
A teenage rugby player had his arm ripped away from his body by a huge tackle during a game.
University of Keele student Spencer Wadsworth says he doesn’t remember the life-changing incident that occurred during an away game in Lancaster, when he was floored by a crunching challenge just five minutes into the match.
“I remember the pain of the tackle, but I can’t remember any of the game,” said Spencer, who is now 20 but was 18 when the horrific incident occurred. “I remember being on the ground and asking where my arm was.”
He was taken away in an ambulance for emergency treatment, but his injuries were so serious that he was forced into an extended hospital stay. He was heavily medicated and relied on antidepressants and other powerful drugs to manage the phantom pain that stemmed from his brain being confused over nerve endings being ripped from their source.
“It is like a really sharp, intense pain that comes in waves. You can’t get away from it,” he explained. “I was on Tramadol, antidepressants, and a range of other medications. I felt like I was detached from reality.
“I couldn’t function normally,” he added. “I was just going through the motions. After three weeks, when I first came out of hospital, it was just awful. It felt like I was in a haze; I couldn’t think clearly and couldn’t even remember basic things.
Coming off the medication was another harrowing ordeal, with Spencer enduring withdrawal symptoms for months, the Mirror report.
“It was brutal,” he said. “The pain came back, and the mental fog lifted only to reveal how much I had lost. I wasn’t a very nice person during that period.”
Spencer had suffered a rare injury to the brachial plexus, a group of nerves that sends signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand. He underwent exploratory surgery, but was then given the news that his right arm was paralysed and he would never be able to use it again.
The stark reality of his situation dawned on him as he recovered at home. Doctors considered amputating his arm, which he was open to, but he ultimately decided to keep it.
“I thought my life was over; that I wouldn’t be able to have a career, no one would find me attractive – what am I going to do with myself?’ he said. “I hated the way it looked, and at first, I thought cutting it off might be the best option.
“But then I realised the technology’s improving, and something that might have seemed like a permanent solution could actually be a temporary one.”
A few months after the incident, Spencer received a visit from a representative of the Injured Players Foundation (IPF), a charity committed to helping players who have suffered severe injuries in rugby.
“I wasn’t really up for a visitor. But it was incredible to meet someone who understood exactly what I was going through,” he said. “The IPF offered more than just practical support-they gave me hope that I could get through this.
“It wasn’t just about getting back on my feet physically; it was about understanding how to rebuild my life. They supported me in ways I never thought possible. They gave me hope when I didn’t have any left.”
Spencer has had to relearn how to do everything with his left hand, such as eating, writing, dressing, and tying shoelaces, but he’s making good progress. He lives independently and is pursuing a degree in biomedical science with aspirations of becoming a doctor.
Having found some solace from the pain through running, he is now preparing to run in the London Landmarks Half Marathon next month as a testament to his journey, and raising funds for charity.
“It was something I could control. Something that helped me feel alive again,” he said. “It’s a privilege to be able to run. If I had been injured differently, I could have been paralysed from the neck down. I’m lucky that I can still move both my legs and get out there.
“Running helps me put everything into perspective. Even running a 5k is still tough for me. I’m gasping for breath by the end of it, but that’s the point. I keep pushing myself because I know I’m alive, I’m here, and I’ve survived.
“I have no regrets about playing rugby,” he added. “I don’t want to dissuade anyone else from the sport. I was just unlucky.”