AFL icon Tony Modra has made “encouraging signs” in his recovery but has a “long road ahead” after his near-fatal truck accident last week.
There were grave fears for the high-flying Adelaide and Fremantle champion when he was rushed to hospital after a freak accident near Victor Harbour, about 80kms south of Adelaide, last Thursday evening.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tony Modra recovering after cattle truck crash
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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.
Modra’s family released a statement on Monday evening with an update on his health.
“Over the past four days, during which Anthony has twice undergone surgery, he has made encouraging progress,” they said.
“However, we are still working through the extent of his injuries and as a family, we are in a very challenging period.
“There’s a long road ahead.”
The family also paid tribute to the overwhelming show and support they have received since the accident, and thanked emergency services, as well as the three passersby, who helped save Modra’s life.
“We want to sincerely thank the many people who have reached out in recent days with messages of support, care and encouragement following Anthony’s accident,” the statement said.
“There has been an overwhelming show of love from our friends, extended family, the AFL community across the country, and broader public.
“We are deeply grateful. While it’s not possible for us to get back to everyone individually right now, we are reading these messages and want you to know it means so much.
“Our children, Hayley and Luke, have told their Dad how Crows fans showed their support during Saturday’s game and he was overcome with emotion and gratitude.
“What happened last Thursday evening was a freak accident. We are extremely grateful to the three passersby – including two people who were trained in first aid and another who provided comfort – who stopped to help within seconds. The emergency services’ professionalism, care and swift action were extraordinary as well.
“Without doubt, they all played a critical role in saving Anthony’s life.
“As parents, we want to acknowledge Luke, whose calmness and quick thinking helped coordinate an immediate response from emergency services, as well as Hayley who was first to the hospital.
“To all of the staff, specialists and surgeons at the Southern Fleurieu Health Service at Victor Harbor and Flinders Medical Centre, we could not ask for better expertise and care.”
Earlier on Monday, close friend and former teammate Mark Ricciuto shared an update on Modra’s “positive weekend”.
“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.”
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.”
