Tom Carlse, 30, was rushed to hospital after he was elbowed in the throat while playing for VCD Athletic F.C. in Crayford on February 1.
While Tom recovers in hospital, friend Joe Foster has been fundraising to support his 18-month-old twins and wife.
Joe told the News Shopper: “It was horrific seeing him in pain, the way he was clearly distressed and knew that there was something very wrong from the very beginning.
“I see flashbacks every now and then that haunt me.”
A scan showed Tom had shattered his larynx leaving him unable to breathe or talk properly.
Tom was placed into a coma with a breathing tube and ventilator keeping him breathing in intensive care.
Joe said: “We all knew from the very beginning that it was serious. But I don’t think we quite knew how serious it was.
“You don’t expect your friend to play a game of football and then you find out he has been put into an induced coma with a breathing tube effectively keeping him alive.”
After six days doctors woke Tom up and performed a tracheostomy – creating an opening in the neck for him to breathe through.
Tom is now able to talk a little but cannot eat or drink and Joe worries he may never fully recover.
He said: “I think I think it’s been huge for him mentally, not being able to see his boys on a daily basis and do everything that you would like to do with them.
“They now do go up and visit him every now and then but it’s not the same.”
As well as the personal impact, the injury means Tom is unable to continue running his business as a sports and PE coach to support his family.
“If he doesn’t work, he doesn’t get paid, he doesn’t earn”, Joe said.
“So that’s the whole idea of the fundraiser to take away that stress while he’s in the hospital of paying the mortgage or bills and allow him to focus on him, his family and recovery.”
The fundraiser has raised over £13,000 so far, with the largest contribution being from Tom’s football team.
Joe has been “overwhelmed” by the over 500 donations but is worried about Tom’s uncertain future.
He said: “At this stage, it’s very highly unknown what the outcome will be.
“We do not know what the long-term effects will be – if he will have a voice, or what type of voice that will be. We don’t know.
“Tom has a very positive outlook on it.
“He accepts that some things aren’t going to be the same again but hopes at least he can talk in some way, and he can communicate with his boys and be with them.”
You can donate to support Tom’s family here: https://gofund.me/8bfd5a2d
