Sunday 1 July 2018, a date that the Willoughby family will never forget.

This is the day that Clint Willoughby's life changed forever.

Clint and his wife Carly had recently purchased a property near Boatharbour and Clint and his father Alan were felling trees prior to the build commencing.

Clint had scaled the tree and began to cut the final tree to be removed, when he was suddenly thrown into the air and fell to the ground, landing awkwardly on his head.

As he lay motionless and numb, Alan scrabbled to alert Emergency Services and family.

Willoughby was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital where surgeons feared the worst.

"The surgeons prepared me before surgery, that there was a strong possibility that I wouldn't be able to walk again," Willoughby said.

"I'm extremely lucky. A broken back can have a number of outcomes, I am lucky that mine allowed me to walk again."

"I fractured my C5 and C6 vertebrae and also suffered spinal damage that has effected my right side."

An X-Ray of the screws and plates. Photo: Clint Willoughby

"The spinal cord damage has left me with nerve damage to my right side which impacts and reduces movement and strength to my right wrist, forearm and shoulder.

"I am grateful, as the initial diagnosis was fairly grim. It could have been much worse.

"The surgeons and doctors were very surprised with how quickly I was able to progress with movement, many were surprised that I was even walking, because of the severity of the injury."

A thumbs up from Clint Willoughby in the Gold Coast University Hospital. Photo: Renae Hoffman

After completing the initial rehabilitation and physiotherapy, Willoughby took it upon himself to improve.

"I haven't been fantastic over the years with following the usual rehabilitation processes. I have steadily gained confidence and introduced daily activities. The most challenging was learning to eat again with four screws and a plate in your neck and having the confidence to remove the neck brace. A lot of my rehab has been done at our family home with plenty of physical work and landscaping around a new home," he said.

"Earlier this year I was introduced to a great group of people at Union Fitness who were very supportive in relation to getting me up and moving again. This came to an end when COVID restrictions occurred, however it built enough confidence in me to think about another year of (social) soccer."

"I continued to ask questions of my medical team, was a comeback a possibility? The more I asked, the closer I was to a "Yes". I eventually received the approval with some conditions, which are hard to stick too."

When you have played football for as long as Clint has, it is hard to make these necessary changes.

"The family thinks I am mad! I tend to agree with them, but I really needed to do this for myself," he said.

"I missed being involved in a team sport, the comradery and the sense of belonging to a group which support you both physically and mentally. John Eakin also played a big part, he would not stop calling me."

Clint has successfully made his comeback with the Goonellabah Hornets First Division side and has slotted into the midfield with old mate and his former coach John Eakin.

"The past couple of games have given me confidence to push myself that little bit harder. I am already looking forward to next season, even though this one has only just begun. Hopefully I will be a couple of kilos lighter by next year," Willoughby said.

"It is fantastic to make my comeback alongside an old friend from our junior days and knowing that he's one of those players that always turns up when you need them.

"There are positives for the side, having John and I in the middle, you only need two men to form a four man wall! We also hold our position very well, it is hard to move us."

The Hornets have a good mix of youth and experience this year and have proved to be a competitive outfit, with 3 draws from their first three matches.

"First Division is very competitive, and always has been, particularly when many of the clubs have their top grade playing in this Division," Willoughby said.

"What I am impressed with, is the young guys are willing to listen, they'll all play at a higher level at some stage and carry the club into the future years.

"Our first win isn't far away, everyone gets along fantastically well off the field and it's enjoyable to be around a great group of blokes."