The words of surfing accident survivor and former Bay footballer Chris Poulos are part of the motivation that keeps the young father-of-two boys, aged 18 months and four, determined to keep going 12 months on from his life changing setback.

It is that support - particularly from wife Alanna - that is keeping the 33-year-old who has been diagnosed as 'incomplete quadriplegic' in a positive mindset.

Unsurprisingly, it was those same tenacious characteristics that summed up the front-row forward's distinguished junior rugby league career as a valuable Nelson Bay club player from the age of nine.

Speaking from his Belmont North home nearing the first anniversary of the accident, Poulos was philosophical about his journey so far, his challenges ahead and his dream to become more independent.

The world of the former Anna Bay resident, who represented the Northern Blues senior rugby league club, came to a shattering standstill on the afternoon of November 15, 2019, in the Dudley Beach surf.

"I have a clear recollection of events leading up to the accident. It was a hot afternoon and I had come home from work thinking I could sneak in a surf in before the weekend rolled around," he said. "The conditions weren't the best, it was mushy and about shoulder-length high. I remember catching a few waves but I don't remember the accident itself."

Poulos was knocked unconscious when his head hit a sandbank and but for the brave efforts of a team of responders, the outcome could have been very different. He remained in a coma for the next five days, his life teetering on a knife edge.

"I was later told that the first three responders included a father and son. Fortunately for me the father had been a pool lifeguard, which might have proven critical in my early care."

Poulos says he met with the trio for the very first time just recently in a rather emotional reunion and says he was glad to be able to pass on his gratitude.

Also part of that collective team of responders was Paul 'Chief' Harragon, who was able to lend his skill and knowledge in the lifesaving rescue operation.

It was not till after regaining consciousness that he also learned that he was unconscious, submerged in the water for some time and that the early medical prognosis was not good.

He had severely injured his C3 and C4 spinal cords and after surgery he was diagnosed a C5 incomplete quadriplegic.

Following four months of intense rehabilitation at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital and Ryde rehabilitation centre, the wheelchair-bound father and husband returned to his home, where the daily grind of rehab and gym training continues.

Poulos attended school in the Port before embarking on a career in the disability sector, rising up the corporate ladder to become the Hunter regional manager at Disability Services Australia.

Through the grace of his employer, he has retained his job at DAS and is hoping "to return to work in the future".

Having settled back into home life, Poulos wanted to extend his gratitude to the support he and his family have received from the Port Stephens community, which donated generously to the GoFundMe page set up by friends in the days following the accident, those who visited and who have contributed in other ways.

Among those supporters have been the Men of League and the organisers of the Dave White memorial golf day held at Nelson Bay golf course, who deposited the entire proceeds - $8000 - from the 2019 event to the Poulos family.

Poulos says he is now looking forward to returning to the Bay for the first time since his accident to personally thank the organisers and those who attended the annual golf day. But prior to that, he has the November 15 anniversary to prepare for.

"I think there will be a lot of emotion, maybe some grief and a sense of loss," he said. "But I cannot dwell on it too much. I have to push forward for my family. I don't know what I would have done without the support of family."

Having come to terms with his injury, Poulos said that one of his biggest fears was that he may never be able to hug his wife and two young children again. Nearly 12 months on, he has achieved that goal, and more.