Springboks World Cup winner "two millimetres from death"

Springboks prop and Rugby World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff has revealed how close he was from a serious neck injury, possibly fatal, following a scrum collapse incident.

Kitshoff was playing in a Currie Cup match for Western Province in September when a scrum collapsed. The 32-year-old heard “three cracking sounds” but continued to play on.

It wasn’t until later on that he realised the damage that had been done to his neck. He’s since undergone major surgery to fuse two cervical vertebrae with bone from his hip.

“It was just another scrum, then three cracking sounds – pop, pop, pop,“ he told South Africa publican Rapport.

“I played on, thinking it was a muscle strain. [But] today I know: I was two millimetres from a catastrophe, from my death.

“The first thing the specialist said to me was: ‘Listen, you’re lucky we didn’t bury you in a week.’ Because the vertebra that shifted is so close to my brain canal. Without the operation, I’d never play rugby again.”

“I’ll see the specialist in January to assess my recovery. If my neck holds up, I’m going for it,” he said.

“If I have to retire, I’ll be satisfied. But I’m not done yet – I’ve always been a warrior for my team.

“Rugby’s a dangerous sport, but I’ll give my all because I’m fighting for my team.”

Kitshoff last played for the Springboks in the World Cup final win over the All Blacks.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission