<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/rugby-league/3" rel="" target="" title="rugby league"><span>rugby league</span></a><span> player Kurt Drysdale has been described as a "warrior and an inspiration" following his death after a battle with pneumonia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Drysdale was left a quadriplegic at 20 years old following a wayward tackle while playing for the Cabramatta Two Blues in a Ron Massey Cup Match in June 2015.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 31-year-old, who suffered a devastating spinal injury, is being remembered as "an inspiration".</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/savannah-guthrie-mum-nancy-missing-new-plea-instagram/669ff3a1-a7e8-4527-8a67-5381e570190c" target="_blank"><strong><span>US journalist Savannah Guthrie's emotional new plea over missing mum</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was left unable to breathe on his own and without most of his movement, and faced spending the rest of his life in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/hospitals" rel="" target="" title="hospital"><span>hospital</span></a><span> or care following the accident.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The former rugby league player is being remembered as a warrior and an inspiration," The Locker Room said in a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/facebook" rel="" target="" title="Facebook"><span>Facebook</span></a><span> post.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In 2017, the rugby league community banded together along with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-paralysed-in-footy-accident-returns-to-new-home-after-700k-dollar-fundraiser/ed2b80fb-bab2-43e5-b41f-22781b7904f7" rel="" target="" title="A Current Affair"><em><span>A Current Affair</span></em></a><span> to help raise over $700,000 for the former player.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/rugby-league-inspiration-dies-following-pneumonia-battle/b75703a7-3a87-4416-8a05-627a1fbc40e5" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The money went towards a house equipped with a specially modified kitchen and an apparatus to help Kurt get in and out of bed, among other facilities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was close friends with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/nrl'" rel="" target="" title="NRL"><span>NRL</span></a><span> players and legends, including Alex Johnston, Shaun Lane, Billy Magoulias and Valentine Holmes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Drysdale died following a two-week battle with pneumonia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>