Former Arsenal youth player left tetraplegic after drink ‘spiked’ on night out | Football | Sport

“When he woke up he couldn’t do anything, he couldn’t move – he was like a newborn but nurses said he was following them with his eyes, so they said there was ‘someone in there,’” Ms Cain said. “He’s gradually coming back and is improving all the time. His long-term memory, things from childhood, he still remembers all that.”

Daniel has since been able to return home after two-and-a-half years in hospital, though needs around-the-clock care and a wheelchair to move around. After over a year’s wait, their family was moved to a suitable home but had to downsize which meant Daniel’s sister, Natalie, had to move out.

He is, however, able to walk and stand again through the help of Neurokinex – an organisation that provides intensive rehabilitation therapy. It is only part-funded by the NHS and costs over £60 an hour, as a GoFundMe has been set up in order to help cover the costs.

“It’s been very hard for him, on different neurological wards he’s been around stroke victims who are mainly over 50 so there were not many people his age he could relate to,” mum Tracey added. “He responds really well to the physio – that’s like his happy place when he’s exercising. It’s more frustrating when he isn’t able to do it.”