
05/09/2025
Ten years ago, Maciu’s life changed in an instant. A seasoned rugby player with over two decades of experience, he was playing for the Harlequins Rugby Club when a freak accident during the opening match left him with a complete C4 quadriplegic spinal cord injury.
Over the next eight weeks at Austin Hospital and seven months at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Maciu relearned how to breathe, eat and speak again. Today, 10 years later, he works as a Peer Support Worker at the Royal Talbot, sharing his lived experience and guiding new patients with spinal cord injuries through their recovery.
This World Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day, we share Maciu’s story to remind us of the importance of visibility and support, and as a powerful testament to resilience. Read it on our website > bit.ly/4nAyKqf