A SOUTH Yorkshire rugby player paralysed in a freak accident saw his baby son walk for the first time at a charity match to help him rebuild his life.
Darren Fletcher watched with pride as one-year-old Edward took his first faltering steps before the start of the match.
Darren, aged 26, from Dinnington, will never walk again after breaking his neck while swimming off the Isles of Scilly last yea
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Teammates of the former Dinnington RFC and Hull Ionians player, including both present and former Yorkshire and England rugby stars, raised more than £9,000 during the charity match at Brough, East Yorkshire.
The money will help pay for an electric wheelchair and equipment for Darren's specially-adapted home. This should soon allow Darren to leave hospital where he has been since the accident in August.
The former rugby player has needed 24-hour care and can no longer work as a self-employed electrician since his accident.
Darren said he had been overwhelmed by the support he'd received, and watching his son walk for the first time had been the icing on the cake.
He said: "I've waited for this moment for so long and it was even more amazing that it happened at his first rugby match. It just couldn't get any better than that."
Darren attended the luncheon and rugby match with his wife Lisa and family and friends.
Lisa said: "Daz wouldn't have missed this day for the world. The fact we were blessed with such great weather and Daz was on full form healthwise was a great start to such a memorable day.
"I haven't seen that cheeky smile on his face for some time and I think it's fair to say that was down to all the rugby lads – they really gave him the boost he needed."
Lisa, 26, who married Darren in 2005, said seeing her husband watch their son walk for the first time on such an important day was truly memorable.
She said: "How apt that it was on a rugby pitch watching his friends playing the most heartfelt game of rugby. It's amazing to think that at Ed's first rugby match his dad's friends all got together and raised all that money which will change Daz's life for the better. Thank you doesn't seem enough."
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