Surfers Paradise icon Princess opens up about road to recovery after foot infection

The Glitter Strip’s bikini-clad identity has spoken publicly for the first time about their scary health battle, which led to an almost month-long hospital stay.

Surfers Paradise icon Princess has opened up about their long road to recovery after a nasty foot infection sparked concern from the community.

The bikini-clad, Glitter Strip identity David Buncombe – better known as Princess – has spoken publicly for the first time about a scary health battle which led to an almost month-long hospital stay.

Princess recovering from having an infected foot. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Known for living on the bustling streets of Surfers, the community became worried when Princess was not seen in public for several weeks throughout March and April.

In an interview with the Bulletin, Princess said they had been living at a caravan park while recovering from a foot infection.

“I feel okay. My foot got infected and it started to swell up,” Princess said.

“I needed to be in hospital so they could operate on it. They operated on it three times.

“(The foot) is just about healed. But I’ve still got a bit of a limp.”

Princess will stay at the caravan park for the foreseeable future until the foot is completely healed.

David ‘Princess’ Buncombe has lived in Surfers Paradise for the past 20 years. Picture: Supplied

And despite being safe and well, Princess said they won’t be seen in Surfers Paradise for some time due to mobility issues.

“Since I’ve been out of hospital, I’ve been going back every week to get it looked at,” they said.

“I had a suction pump on it that pumps out fluid. I only had that removed last week.

“I haven’t been able to walk around.”

Princess is currently living in a Gold Coast caravan park. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The identity was thankful for the community’s outpouring of support and well wishes.

“It’s nice to know that I’m missed,” Princess said.

“I’m being taken good care of.”

Bulletin readers who have followed the icon’s journey over the past several years have been eagerly awaiting updates about Princess.

“Get well in your body and your soul, Princess. You are loved by so many,” Louise Bradley posted on Facebook.

Princess outside a cabin at a caravan park. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“Here’s hoping Princess is on the road to recovery,” Karin Andres wrote.

“Wherever Princess is I hope he’s still living his best life,” Tash Lewis wrote.

In 2014, Princess told the Bulletin he wanted to marry popstar Kylie Minogue.

“I went to Phillip Island and saw a photo of Kylie Minogue in a window and I started to believe Kylie was the girl I was looking for,” he said at the time.

Earlier this year, the identity was named in the Bulletin’s list of top 10 cult figures.

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Originally published as Surfers Paradise icon Princess opens up about road to recovery after foot infection