- Fan shares photo of Souths great Nathan Merritt
- Merritt appears to be on the mend after health scare
- Star was placed on life support in early October
A footy fan has shared an uplifting photo of Rabbitohs great Nathan Merritt who seems to be recovering well after just weeks ago collapsing and being placed on life support.
Merritt was rushed to hospital and placed on life support when he was found unresponsive in his aunt’s home on October 6.
The 40-year-old awoke from his coma one week later and remained at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a stable condition.
Last week there were reports that Merritt was continuing to improve and was back talking, sitting up and getting out of bed.
On Sunday, a fan posted a photo to the South Sydney Rabbitohs Supporter Group on Facebook of Merritt standing with a cup of coffee and smiling.
A Souths fan has shared an encouraging photo of Souths legend Nathan Merritt
Merritt was placed on life support after being found unconscious on October 6
‘I visited Nathan Merritt in hospital this morning and you’ll be pleased to know he’s doing well and on the mend,’ wrote the fan.
‘He gave me permission to post this and asked me to thank everyone for their kind words, thoughts and prayers.’
Merritt’s collapse is believed to have been triggered by an adverse reaction to prescribed pain-killers.
The former Souths flyer had played in the Koori Knockout one week prior to the medical episode.
One of the most beloved figures in modern Souths history, Merritt is the club’s second-most prolific try-scorer.
A Redfern junior, Merritt’s 154 tries are the equal 12th-most in the history of top-flight Australian rugby league.
Merritt, born and raised in Redfern, started his journey in football as a junior player with the Alexandria Rovers competing in the South Sydney junior competition.
Merritt’s collapse is believed to have been triggered by an adverse reaction to pain-killers
After his retirement, he channeled his passion for the sport into a cause close to his heart, establishing the Nathan Merritt Foundation dedicated to offering guidance and support to Indigenous youth in Sydney.
The incident comes after Merritt pleaded guilty to common assault after repeatedly punching a pub security guard who was trying to help him get home after a drinking session in December, 2022.
His lawyer told the Burwood Local Court it was ‘pure luck’ nobody was seriously injured in the assault and revealed Merritt – who the court was told suffered depression after retiring from football – was so intoxicated he only has vague memories of the attack.
