A footy legend, a larrikin and a hospital escape gone wrong
When footy legend Tommy Raudonikis told his great mate John Singleton he didn’t want to die in hospital, the Sydney businessman wasted no time in formulating a plan to bust the footy legend out. Sadly — or luckily — the escape attempt was foiled.
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As escape plans go, Sydney businessman John Singleton’s plot to bust his great mate Tommy Raudonikis out of a Gold Coast hospital could probably have done with some finessing.
A rope of bedsheets might have been a help, a disguise wouldn’t have hurt, but what Singo’s audacious “plan to rescue Tommy” bid lacked in detail was made up for amply with pluck, heart and lunacy — three things the Newtown Jets tragic has long possessed in great supply.
Early last week, Singleton and “an accomplice”, later positively identified as former Newtown Jets second-rower Col Murphy — who Singleton described as “a great player, greater bloke” — were spotted trying to persuade nurses at Gold Coast Hospital to permit their mate, legendary league halfback Raudonikis, to slip his hospital confines and spend an afternoon at a local watering hole.
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The three men were spotted planning their escape — Raudonikis reportedly still in hospital gown — when sharp-eyed nurses caught up with them, tucking a forlorn Raudonikis back in his bed.
The plan, sources said yesterday, must have taken entire “minutes” to concoct.
A chastened Singleton yesterday confirmed the failed rescue.
“I’ve had sillier ideas — not much though,” he said.
Murphy, slipping the blame to Raudonikis, elaborated: “Tommy didn’t want to lie in a hospital bed, so Singo and I decided we’d bust him. We didn’t get far. We couldn’t disconnect him from the machines … but all the while Tom was saying ‘get me out of here!’.”
By week’s end, Raudonikis, who is battling inoperable stage four neck cancer, was back home in the loving care — and under the watchful eye — of his partner Trish Brown.
Singleton confirmed Raudonikis was quietly celebrating a little good news following his involvement in a cancer trial.
“Tommy is more determined than any other 20 people I know,” he said.
Murphy added: “Tom’s a great fighter but it’s been tough lately and he just looked at us and said he didn’t want to die in hospital.
“So we thought we’d help him out.”