South Sydney Rabbitohs star Nathan Merritt’s family gives update on his condition after he was left fighting for life in hospital
Nathan Merritt’s family has given an update, stating that his condition has’slightly’ improved.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs great, 40, was transported to Sydney’s inner west’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and placed on life support last Friday after being found unresponsive.
Teanne Merritt, Merritt’s sister, delivered an encouraging update on Tuesday, two days after she reported his health was still serious.
However, she cautioned her brother that he is still not out of the woods and had a difficult journey ahead of him.
Aside from direct family, hospital visits are not permitted.
‘We’ve been told Nathan is recovering slightly but still has a long road to rehabilitation,’ Teanne wrote on Facebook.
‘We thank everyone, family and friends that have come up to visit Nathan and all the well wishes and kind words from all.
‘At present, only immediate family are able to visit Nathan. Thank you all for your ongoing love and support.’
It comes after family acquaintances told News Corp on Monday that Merritt’s lung capacity had improved over the past 24 hours and that internal swelling had decreased.
‘Nathan is still serious and he’s not out of the woods but there is a slight improvement,’ one friend said.
‘There are some encouraging signs, which are good. His lung capacity has increased.
‘Hopefully he can get a little bit better every day. It’s a slow process.’
Merritt has been regularly visited by Canterbury Bulldogs and NSW Blues star Josh Addo-Carr, as well as former St George five-eighth and boxing champion Anthony Mundine.
Mundine claimed that the combination of pneumonia and playing football at the Koori Knockout may have contributed to Merritt’s collapse.
‘He didn’t know he had pneumonia,’ Mundine said. ‘He kept asking for his puffer every 10 minutes because he was finding it hard to breathe from the Pneumonia.’