Casey Tutungi (R) playing for South Barwon earlier this year. Source: Stuart Walmsley / News Limited
A FORMER Geelong VFL player will never be able to walk or use his arms again after a freak on-field accident in a local football match, his family have confirmed.
Casey Tutungi, 27, remained in the Austin Hospital last night as his family broke the news.
Dad Chris Tutungi said doctors had told the family his son's life was permanently changed.
"The medical staff at the hospital gave us the prognosis no parent of an active, strong, vital 27-year-old wants to hear," he and wife Carol said in a statement. "Casey has been diagnosed as a quadriplegic."
The family have been rallying around the gifted footballer and civil engineer, who works at Barwon Water.
Casey, who will become a father for the first time when fiancee Bridget gives birth in November, has seen scans of his baby from his hospital bed.
The co-coach of Geelong Football League team South Barwon was injured during a clash against St Joseph's 17 days ago.
The hard-at-it footballer had just gathered the ball when he ran into an opposition player's stomach.
He flopped backwards, screaming that he could not feel anything.
Doctors told the family that Casey had fractured and dislocated his C4 and C5 vertebrae, which had compressed his spinal cord and caused swelling.
The injury has stopped the brain sending messages to his arms and legs to get them to move.
Mr Tutungi said Casey, who was fully aware of his situation, had some movement in his shoulders and one of his biceps could slightly contract.
He said Casey had been making jokes with nurses despite his circumstances.
"He's still got his sense of humour," Mr Tutungi said.
"We'll give him all the support he needs. He won't let it stop him," he said.
The family have set up a trust fund to provide state-of-the-art medical equipment that could help Casey.
Donations to the Casey Tutungi Future Fund can be made at Bendigo Bank branches or via caseytutungi.com
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