Former prime minister Tony Abbott injured while surfing at Manly Beach
EXCLUSIVE: Former PM Tony Abbott admits he dismissed a surf injury to his left foot today as minor until cafe staff arrived at his table - with a mop to clean up the pool of blood.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Bennett Surfboards offer Tony Abbott new board after his snapped
- Former PM Tony Abbott comes out of hiding for a surf
WARRINGAH MP Tony Abbott felt the bite of his own surfboard early this morning when he fin-chopped himself.
Mr Abbott was taken to Manly Hospital for treatment and had several stitches to close a gash in his left foot.
Mr Abbott admits he dismissed the surf injury as minor until staff at Manly cafe Salt — where he went afterwards — arrived at his table with a mop to clean up the pool of blood.
Mr Abbott collided with another surfboard while catching a wave at 6.45am.
But he told the Manly Daily he kept surfing because he did not notice the injury to his left leg until he got out of the water about 90 minutes later.
“I suddenly noticed there was a bit of blood and a flap of loose skin,” the 58-year-old said.
He then went onto his favourite cafe for a breakfast of two eggs on toast.
“I realise I was probably being a bit blase when the good people at Salt came up with a mop and bucket to clean up the blood.
“After having the usual cup of coffee and breakfast at Salt I went up to the Manly ED”.
Becky Warne restaurant manager at Salt, said: “He had his usual breakfast special.
“He didn’t seem to be bothered by the fact he had quite a bad injury.
“Another local was in who was a doctor so they helped patch him up.
“There was a little bit of blood dripped around the floor, which we cleaned up of course,”
“He comes in quite regularly.”
Mr Abbott said the drama began when he realised a board was floating nearby.
“There is a young guy who is an absolute gun on the longboard. His board was just floating there,” Mr Abbott said.
“I wasn’t paying quite as much attention as I should when the wave I caught picked up his board.”
“Both of us were concerned about our boards and we made sure our boards were fine.
Mr Abbott said the staff at Manly Hospital were incredibly professional and attentive.
“I would like to thank them for the attention they gave me,” he said.
The injury occurred during an early-morning surf at Manly.
Surf conditions were not heavy at the time, with waves less than 1m rolling in to the shore.
Mr Abbott subsequently tweeted: “A big thank you to ED at Manly Hospital for patching me up this morning after a minor fin chop”.
Staff at the hospital confirmed they had treated a 58-year-old man for a cut ‘who was stable’ before he returned to his Warringah electorate office before lunch.
A hospital spokesman said: ‘The man left in a stable condition after being treated for a cut.’
Fanatical surfer Mr Abbott hit previously made headlines for his antics in the surf.
In March, he was filmed dropping in on 17-year-old surfer Ivy Thomas at Tea Tree Bay in Noosa, Queensland.
Ms Thomas was in the middle of riding a wave when she looked up and noticed him coasting along in front of her.
When asked about the incident, Mr Abbott blamed his poor eyesight and lavished praise on the ‘extremely attractive and very talented’ Ms Thomas.
In September, 2014 Mr Abbott emerged from Queenscliff Beach with a snapped board, and in January of that year he told axed breakfast show Wake Up that he wasn’t surfing because he’d just snapped a different board.
Meet every player in the Netball NSW Premier League grand finals
NSW’s elite netball talents are on show this weekend in the grand finals of the Premier League. We take a look at every player set to take the court in the U23s and Open divisions.
Sydney Women’s Rugby: Meet 40+ stars on show in the finals
From international stars to rising young guns and those just happy to be alongside their besties, the Sydney Women’s Rugby finals has everyone covered. 40+ talents from all four divisions.