How Springboks’ Steven Kitshoff cheated death by millimeters
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 18.12.24. | 16:10
Further medical examinations revealed the extent of the damage as the vertebra that had shifted was dangerously close to his brain canal, putting his life and career at risk
Two-time Springbok world champion Steven Kitshoff has shared the harrowing details of a neck injury that brought him frighteningly close to losing his life.
The 32-year-old loosehead prop revealed the incident, which occurred during a Currie Cup match between Western Province and Griquas in early September, was far more severe than he initially realized.
“It was just another scrum, then three cracking noises—pop, pop, pop. I kept playing, thinking it was a pulled muscle. But now I know: I was two millimetres away from catastrophe, from death,” he told Boks Office show on RugbyPass TV.
Having only recently returned from a knee injury that had kept him out of international action for most of the year, Kitshoff initially dismissed the neck discomfort as something minor.
However, further medical examinations revealed the extent of the damage. The vertebra that had shifted was dangerously close to his brain canal, putting his life and career at risk.
“It was a normal scrum, nothing unusual. The scrum didn’t even collapse, but during it, I felt something crack at the back of my neck, like something had come loose,” he said.
On Wednesday 20 November, Kitshoff underwent a gruelling six-hour neck surgery to repair the damage. Shortly afterwards, he reassured his fans through an Instagram post:
“Excited to share that my surgery was a huge success! A huge thank you to my incredible doctors and nurses for their exceptional care, and to all my family, friends, and loyal supporters—your support means the world to me!
I have a long road to recovery ahead of me, but I am confident about the future. Trust me to keep you updated on my progress and don’t believe any other source. Here’s to recovery!” he posted.
Kitshoff then went ahead to reveal the gravity of his condition.
“The first thing the specialist said to me was: ‘Listen, you’re lucky we didn’t bury you this week.’ Without the surgery, I’d never have been able to play rugby again,” he said in an interview with South African outlet Rapport.
Despite the severity of the injury, Kitshoff remains optimistic about his recovery. While his timeline for a return to rugby remains uncertain, he hopes to resume playing golf by February and will see his specialist in January for a progress assessment.
A veteran with 83 caps for South Africa, Kitshoff started in the Springboks’ World Cup final victory against New Zealand in October.
“If my neck holds up, I’ll go all the way. If I have to retire, I’ll be satisfied with what I’ve achieved. But I’m not done. I’ve always been a warrior for my team. Rugby is a dangerous sport, but I’ll give everything I have because I’m fighting for my team,” he concluded.
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