Welsh rugby professional Ifan Phillips – a hooker who played for Ospreys – is remaining positive after confirming he had a leg amputated above the knee after a motorcycle crash.
Phillips has just returned home from hospital after suffering serious injuries in a crash between two motorcycles in Swansea on December 5.
He praised hospital staff, but said “following ongoing surgery it was not possible to save my leg’’.
Phillips thanked people for their support in an Instagram post at the weekend.
“Shwmae. Now that I’m home from hospital and spirits are high I’d like to say a few words,’’ the former Wales under-20 international said.
“Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone for your support over the last few days.
“It honestly means so much to me and my family. The generosity of the public and the rugby community has been truly overwhelming and I cannot thank you guys enough for your kind donations, messages and much more.
“My heartfelt thanks go to all who assisted at the scene of the accident, to the Emergency Services and to all staff at Morriston Hospital. You have all been brilliant.
“On the 5th of December I was rushed in to Morriston Hospital following a motorbike accident.
“I went into theatre on arrival but following ongoing surgery it was not possible to save my leg.
“As a result I had to have an above the knee amputation.
“Your kind donations will all be going towards my rehabilitation and hopefully getting a prosthetic leg which will enable me to experience new opportunities.”
An online funding page has been set up for Phillips with the aim of raising £100,000 ($196,000) for a Genium X3 prosthesis, regarded as “the world’s most technologically advanced prosthetic leg”.
More than 1700 donors had given over £60,000
