Alex McKinnon's life was turned upside down in 2014 when an illegal spear tackle during an NRL match caused fractures to two vertebrae on his spine. A promising rugby league career had lay ahead of the Newcastle Knights player, but that spinal injury saw him become a quadriplegic.
But as he was lying in his hospital bed, he proposed to his girlfriend Teigan Power, and promised her he would stand at their wedding.
And that's exactly what he's done.
Alex uploaded a shot of the big day, with the caption saying: "It took three years of EVERYTHING I've got in me to achieve this moment of standing with my beautiful wife on our wedding day. Dreams do come true."
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Fans have flooded his account, with messages of support, with one person saying: "You are a true champion, your new wife is also absolutely amazing to be there for you no matter what, you both have something very special, a once in a lifetime love."
Another wrote: "Awesome stuff mate. Lucky to have such a beautiful bride to pick you up even when you're down. Looks to have made your struggles easier. Keep fighting!"
Talking to New Idea, Alex reflected on his big day: "It was such a good time. And you know, I wasn't nervous at all. The closer it got to the wedding the better it was. So many things could have gone wrong, but it was all perfect."
Alex looks back on how his injury changed his life. Credit: Channel 9/The NRL Footy Show
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His new wife Teigan, added: "It was lovely to be able to look him in the eye, rather than looking down at him in his wheelchair. It just made the ceremony that much more intimate. We started crying every time we caught each other's eye. It was beautiful."
But they weren't the only ones to shed a few tears at the ceremony. Former teammate Darius Boyd gave an emotional speech where he reflected on their friendship and the battles that Alex has endured since his accident.
Boyd told the crowd: "Through adversity, the world has got to know the man who has inspired me every day since the day I met him."
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Teigan recently uploaded a video of the ongoing rehabilitation that Alex is undergoing to get some movement in his legs.
She wrote: "So PROUD of all the hard work @alexmmckinnon puts into his rehab! We are back at @makingstridesau and he is smashing out the walking again. So grateful to have such a determined man by my side."
After he sustained the injury, he received the maximum insurance pay out of $500,000 and was offered a job for life at the NRL.
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Alex started working with the Knights in 2015 as a recruitment coordinator but left his post this year to focus on public speaking.
Sources: New Idea
Topics: SPORT, World News