HE’S DEFYING THE ODDS..! – AFL legend Tony Modra remains in the fight after his freak truck accident, with doctors preparing more surgery as loved ones speak of a “miracle” recovery.
The goalkicking champion had a ‘positive weekend’ – but remains in a fight and still requires more surgery.
Tony Modra recovering after cattle truck crash
Tony Modra is set to undergo more facial surgery following his near-fatal truck accident, but was woken up from a coma over the weekend and is on the road to recovery.
There were grave fears for the high-flying AFL champion when he was rushed to hospital after a freak accident near Victor Harbour, about 80kms south of Adelaide, last Thursday evening.
Modra had been driving near his cattle property when a tree branch broke through the windshield of his truck and caused shocking facial injuries which threatened to kill him.
But after spending days in the intensive care unit at Flinders Medical Centre in South Adelaide, where he underwent several surgeries, the 57-year-old is on the mend.
“It’s been a positive weekend, it’s definitely fair to say,” Modra’s former teammate and close friend Mark Ricciuto told Triple M Breakfast with Roo, Ditts and Loz on Monday.
“He had a really long day on Friday, getting operations on his jaw, cheekbone and eye socket. I went to bed and they were still operating on him at that point, so you could imagine how long that was.
“But Saturday I got a great message during the football from Erica (Modra’s wife) saying that they’ve woken him up, and that was awesome. But he was in a lot of pain as you can imagine after having all those operations the day before.
“He remembered everything that happened, if you can believe that. So obviously no concussion, no brain injury which is a huge positive, but it’s also a bit of a negative when you can picture all the stuff that’s happened.
“So, great news he’s got no brain issues, a little bit tough emotionally to get through reliving what happened.”
Ricciuto has been in constant contact with Erica who, along with other members of Modra’s family, has been by his side since the accident.
“Also the other great thing was he could deal with all that with Erica around him and his kids and his parents and his family, so that was awesome that they could all be there to look after him. Erica said that was the best medicine of everything that Tony could have,” Ricciuto said.
“Yesterday (Sunday) he actually come out of intensive care which is great, but he’s got to go back in and have more surgery today.
“It’s been obviously a super tough experience for everyone. It’s a miracle not only that he’s alive, but that he’s at that point where he is right now.
“We continue to keep our fingers crossed and continue to wish him all the best and that he keeps improving and he gets better, but it’s certainly going to be a long road back to normality, whatever that is. Might be a few steps forward and a couple steps back here and there, but he’s improving and we wish him all the best.”
The universal love for Modra rippled around the entire country when news of the accident first surfaced.
During Adelaide’s clash with Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, fans held up the original ‘GOD-RA’ banner from the ‘90s to show their support for the former Crows superstar.
Crows coach Matthew Nicks said some things, like this, are bigger than footy.
“It’s something that we don’t hide from, that there are tough things going on in life and footy is not number one,” Nicks said.
“However when we get to the oval on a game day, there’s a need as a professional athlete to actually put footy number one for 120 minutes or a little bit longer than that, because you’ve got to prepare yourself.
“So we had that conversation. We talked openly through a number of things that are going on in life, away from what we’re doing on a footy oval.
“But the moment we walk off, then our mind goes back to family and to things like Mods, and where Mods is at at the moment and how we can try and support.”
Adelaide Crows legend Tony Modra suffered critical facial injuries and life-threatening trauma when a large tree branch struck the windscreen of his cattle truck near Victor Harbour.
(Source: 7NEWS)
Adelaide Crows legend Tony Modra suffered critical facial injuries and life-threatening trauma when a large tree branch struck the windscreen of his cattle truck near Victor Harbour.
