(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
From Coma to World Cup in Three Years – Abi Burton’s Remarkable Comeback
Abi Burton’s journey to the Women’s Rugby World Cup is nothing short of extraordinary. Just three years ago, the England flanker faced a life-threatening battle that left her in a medically-induced coma. Today, she stands ready to compete on the world stage, a testament to her resilience and determination.
Burton first fell seriously ill after returning from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. At 22, she struggled with extreme fatigue and mental health challenges that were initially linked to a knee injury. Her condition worsened dramatically—seizures, agitation, and erratic behavior forced her family to seek urgent medical intervention.
A specialist eventually diagnosed Burton with autoimmune encephalitis, a rare condition where the immune system attacks the brain. Due to her extreme agitation, doctors placed her in a medically-induced coma for nearly four weeks. Her family faced an agonizing wait, unsure if she would wake or emerge without lasting brain damage.
Upon waking, Burton could not walk, talk, read, or write, and had lost significant weight. “The one thing that really sticks with me is that when you wake up, you think you’re alright,” she recalled. Learning even basic tasks became a challenge, but she tackled her recovery with courage and determination.
After a year of intensive rehabilitation, Burton returned to rugby. She signed with Premiership Women’s Rugby side Trailfinders Women in 2023 and earned a spot on the Great Britain Sevens team the following year. This year, she made her Six Nations debut, scoring two tries off the bench against Wales.
Although she did not score in England’s 92-3 win over Samoa, Burton knows her journey is about far more than points on the board. “I saw my grandparents, mum and dad, my brothers in the crowd during the anthems. It was just super special,” she said. “They went through hell and back, and to see us thriving together as a family is everything.”
Now, as the Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks off, Burton’s story stands as an inspiration. From a coma to competing on the world stage, she has already overcome battles far greater than any opponent on the field.
