Nathan Merritt, a South Sydney Rabbitohs club star, has awoken from his coma, it has been verified.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have verified that Merritt is awake and surrounded by his immediate family, one week after being found comatose, taken to hospital, and left fighting for his life.
“Fantastic news tonight!” Souths shared his thoughts about X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The Merritt family has informed us that Nath is now awake and surrounded by his immediate family.”
“He is still in the hospital, receiving excellent care from his doctors and nurses.” Merro, keep up the good work! We’re all rooting for you!”
The one-time NSW Blues winger was placed on life support after collapsing whilst staying with his aunty, and it has since been understood that he suffered an adverse reaction to consuming prescribed pain medication.
The former Rabbitohs winger ranks third on the all-time club try-scorers list with 151 tries in 208 NRL games for the club. He also registered a short two-year stint with the Cronulla Sharks between 2004 and 2005.
His representative honours include one game for the NSW Blues in the 2013 State of Origin series, two appearances for the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII, two games for City Origin and three jerseys for the Indigenous All Stars – winning the Preston Campbell Medal in the 2012 All Stars game.
“We heard the news in the Rabbitohs group chat that the players have, it’s very sad,” Rabbitohs forward Keaon Koloamatangi told News Corp.
“We were all sad to see the news, he’s a big part of the club.
“I just want to send my prayers and thoughts to his family and all loved ones, and his (five) kids of course.
“I’ll be keeping him and his family in my prayers going forward. I really hope we hear some positive news really soon.”