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Superbug scare for Wallaby
Bad infection: Richard Brown
Australia back-row Richard Brown did not enjoy the best of Christmases this year after he was struck down with a life threatening superbug in Perth.
The powerful Western Force player, who was originally scheduled for minor ankle surgery to remove a piece of floating bone, returned home and was ready to enjoy the festive period.
But just five days later, Brown was forced to return to hospital after contracting antibiotic-resistant strain of golden staph. He was placed on a drip.
"I was pretty crook there for a week. They told me it was touch and go there for a while," Brown said, speaking to The West Australian.
"It was only a little operation but it was a pretty bad infection. Hospital staff said if it had got into my blood or the joint it could have caused long-term damage.
"Nurses were in a bit of a panic, and it almost spoiled my Christmas, but I'm good to go now.
"The bit of bone had been floating around for years, and it seemed a good time to have it cleaned out. Maybe it wasn't.
"I got the all-clear on Wednesday, and I'm back in the gym."
