Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
- Was a rising NRL star with the Newcastle Knights
- The foul play made him a quadriplegic
- Now he celebrated a big new achievement with his loved ones
Former NRL star Alex McKinnon has shared heartwarming photos of himself being joined by his family and partner as he celebrates a life-changing event.
McKinnon made it official graduated from Newcastle University with a BA in Psychology10 years after a horror battle ended his dreams – and life as he knew it.
The 32-year-old was promising NRL Newcastle Knights player until the tragic end of his career on 24 March 2014.
The Knights striker suffered a serious spinal injury during a match against Melbourne Storm on a botched tackle that fractured his C4 and C5 vertebrae.
This injury left him a quadriplegic at just 22 years old.
In 2015 McKinnon became engaged to his longtime partner Teigan Power and they married in 2017. The couple welcomed three children, Harriet Ann and twins Audrey and Violet, but their marriage broke up in 2022.
McKinnon is pictured with her friend Lily Malone, who arrived with a large bouquet of flowers to congratulate her friend on graduating from university
McKinnon was a promising NRL player with the Newcastle Knights until his accident in 2014.
however McKinnon found new love with 22-year-old Lily Malonewith the couple confirming their romance in March.
Malone, McKinnon’s eldest daughter Harriet Anne and his parents Scott and Kate were by his side for his graduation, and Lily posted “Proud is an understatement” along with a love heart emoji.
McKinnon posted the ‘who would have thought’ with prom board emoji in a post that was liked and commented on by a host of NRL stars and loved ones.
“Well done my friend,” posted Jake Marchetto, a former St. George Illawarra Dragons.
“Congratulations, friend! Great effort,” added former Knights star Billy Peden.
“Going to university was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life,” McKinnon previously said.
“One of the biggest disappointments when I got injured was that I had spent my whole life, 22 years, trying to fine tune myself as an athlete to compete.
“And when all of that is taken away from you, it’s soul-destroying. Not only do you lose your identity, but all that hard work you put in is now worth nothing.
McKinnon is all smiles as he earns his bachelor’s degree in psychology
McKinnon celebrated her graduation with eldest daughter Harriet Ann and parents Scott and Kate
“Of course, I learned lessons along the way, but all those tools I learned, I can’t use them anymore. So you basically have to start over.
After his injury in 2014 McKinnon underwent extensive rehabilitation to regain his limited mobility and independence.
The NRL launched the Rise for Alex campaign in 2014, raising funds to support his ongoing care and recovery.
Determined to make a difference, McKinnon became an advocate for spinal injury awareness and worked to raise funds for medical research and rehabilitation services.
McKinnon remained involved with rugby league, joining the Newcastle Knights coaching and recruitment team to contribute off the field.
In 2020 he published his autobiography, Unbroken, sharing his story of injury, recovery and resilience.
He has also participated in public speaking and charity events, using his experiences to inspire others.
MacKinnon continues to advocate for spinal research and remains an active figure in the rugby league community.
