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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Wife of AFL legend Tony Modra thanks first responders 'who saved his life'

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • AFL legend Tony Modra is in hospital after a serious truck crash in South Australia.
  • His wife, Erica, expressed gratitude to first responders who "saved his life."
  • Fellow players and officials have sent well-wishes, with Modra's condition being monitored in intensive care.

AFL icon Tony Modra remains in hospital after being seriously injured in a truck crash on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula. The former Adelaide Crows and Fremantle Dockers star was driving a truck that hit a tree at Back Valley on Thursday afternoon.

He's going alright, it's pretty amazing he's got through it.

— Mark RicciutoRicciuto relayed an update on Tony Modra's condition from his wife, Erica.

Modra's wife, Erica, has thanked the emergency services who "saved his life" and provided support during the critical moments. She noted that while he is recovering, he will bear scars from the incident. Former Crows teammate Mark Ricciuto shared this sentiment on Triple M Adelaide, describing Modra as "one of my best mates" and expressing hope for his recovery.

Police were called to the scene around 5:15 pm on Thursday. The 57-year-old Modra was taken to the intensive care unit at Flinders Medical Centre, where he is reportedly in good care. Ricciuto, who played with Modra in the 1990s, urged listeners to "say a prayer for Mods."

She said to me just before, he's not going to be the same good-looking Tony Modra, he's going to have some scars.

— Mark RicciutoRicciuto shared a personal detail from Modra's wife about his recovery.

Modra had a distinguished AFL career, playing 165 games and leading the Adelaide Crows as their top goalkicker for five consecutive seasons. He won the league's Coleman Medal in 1997 but missed the club's first premiership that year due to a knee injury sustained in the preliminary final.

Erica just wants to say a very big thank you to the first responders … who saved his life and helped talk through to Erica while things were going down.

— Mark RicciutoRicciuto conveyed Modra's wife's gratitude to the emergency responders.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas acknowledged Modra as an "extraordinary South Australian" who has significantly impacted many people. Current Crows captain Tex Walker and former Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir have also conveyed their well-wishes to Modra and his family.

It's hardly a surprise that [the news of the crash] has captured the attention of many, given the impact that Mods had on a lot of people, whether he met them or not.

— Peter MalinauskasSouth Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas commented on the public's concern for Tony Modra.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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