Tragically, he suffered a severe injury on the field, breaking his neck and damaging his spinal cord, leading to life-long challenges. His devastated family was told that he would never walk again. 

Despite the obstacles of his new reality, Alex has shown remarkable resilience, turning his recovery journey into a mission of inspiration. Now a motivational speaker, he encourages others to embrace persistence and gratitude as keys to overcoming adversity. We were incredibly lucky to have Alex share his powerful story in the Embrace Kids film, where his message of hope and determination continues to inspire many.

Alex’s story 

As Alex reflects on the fateful day of his accident, he vividly recalls the training session that changed everything. “I was training with the Under 17s New South Wales Rugby Sevens training squad and I had the ball, and I was attacking, and I tried to run around the opposition, at the same time trying to palm him to get around him. As I did that, he grabbed my arm and pulled straight down towards the floor, which resulted in me flipping onto my head.” 

His mum, Kylie, recalls the day that changed their lives: “I remember exactly where I was, at the kitchen bench, and my mobile phone rang, and it was my good friend Gillian, who was at the grounds because her son Hamish was trialling with Alex. And her words to me were, ‘Kylie, there’s been an accident.’”

Alex regained consciousness in hospital, learning that he’d landed on his head during the fall, resulting in a severe spinal injury. “I woke up in ICU looking at the white ceiling, pinned to the bed, unable to move my legs, or my arms, or my head, or literally anything except my eyeballs. That’s the only thing I had control of,” he says. 

Alex recalls feeling as though his legs were in the air, but his brother Zack responded with the stark reality: “Mate, they’re flat down, pinned to the bed.”

The fighter 

Alex’s parents were initially told he would never walk again and to prepare for the reality that he would be a quadriplegic with paralysis from the arms down. It was a devastating injury that would change his life, but even in those early days, Alex’s fighting spirit shone through. 

“I think it was the fourth or fifth day in the ICU and the whole family was in the room. And it was all dark, no lights were on, and Zack was really battling with the situation, and he was going through his HSC, and he was really struggling with committing to his exams and study and he said he didn’t really want to do it.

“I kind of just said, ‘Zack, if I fight, you fight.’ I don’t know why I said that, I just did. ‘If I fight and do the best I can through my journey and fight the situation, then you fight as well and attack your exams the best you can do.’ He must have done pretty well because he got a 92 ATAR, so I think my words of wisdom helped him,” Alex says. 

This simple comment has sparked a powerful movement, inspiring individuals, businesses, sports clubs, schools, celebrities, professional athletes, DJs, and anyone who hears Alex’s story.

Alex endured nine days in the intensive care unit, 22 days in the spinal unit at Royal North Shore Hospital, and 239 days at Royal Rehab, where he worked incredibly hard to adjust to his new life and regain function in his limbs. Since then, Alex has hit major physical and mental milestones. He returned to school to complete his HSC, attended music festivals, and built strength to brush his teeth, use a computer, feed himself, and perform quicker transfers into his bed and wheelchair, which he can now operate himself.

While Alex may never fully regain control of his legs, he has made astounding progress. He describes his rehabilitation journey: “I can’t remember exactly the first time I stood up, but I remember the first day. Yeah, it was just a massive struggle, but it was awesome, and I knew that I had more to work with now. I go jet-skiing, sailing, surfing, kayaking, swimming, snorkelling, bushwalking. Probably shouldn’t do some of the things I do. But I understand that my body’s just like every other body, so I can kind of do some crazy things.”

Finding joy 

Reflecting on his journey, Alex’s outlook is powerful: “You only have one life, so there’s no point getting stuck in a loop of feeling sorry for yourself or wishing you had something else that you don’t have. What I’ve realised is that being grateful is better than pursuing happiness.”

Now a public speaker, Alex shares his journey with others, encouraging his audiences to change their perspective: “I’m able to do things now that I never used to. I speak in front of a hundred thousand people. The power of persistence, day in and day out, for two years and eight months, has got me to where I am at this very moment … I’ve come a pretty long way,” he says. 

“Think about three things that you are truly grateful for in your life. If you can wake up and be truly grateful for these things every day, that feeling of happiness will turn into more of a constant feeling throughout your life. Find resilience through persistence and gratitude, and you can conquer the world.”

Known for his courageous attitude, Alex actively participates in various sports and activities, proving that his body is capable of extraordinary things. His story is a testament to strength, determination, and a mindset that focuses on what’s possible rather than what’s lost.

For more on the incredible ways Alex is inspiring others, head to www.alexnoble.com.au