Tony Modra is recovering after a freak accident near his cattle property left him with devastating facial injuries when a tree branch smashed through the windshield of his truck.
The 57-year-old spent several days in intensive care at Flinders Medical Centre in South Adelaide, where he underwent multiple operations. On Monday evening, his family issued a statement providing an update on his condition.
“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 thanked those who have supported them since the accident, including emergency workers and the three strangers who stopped and 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, Modra’s former teammate and close friend Mark Ricciuto said the weekend had brought encouraging signs. Speaking on Triple M Breakfast with Roo, Ditts and Loz, Ricciuto described a major day of surgery on Friday.
“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.”
Support for Modra spread nationwide after news of the crash emerged. At Adelaide Oval on Saturday during Adelaide’s match against Melbourne, fans lifted the original ‘GOD-RA’ banner from the 90s in tribute to the former Crows star.
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said moments like this put football in perspective.
“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.”
