Flesh-eating bug survivor Henry Clunies-Ross back to his best in Shute Shield
This rugby player knows more about moisturisers and oils than he ever thought he would - and a flesh-eating bacteria he only narrowly escaped from losing his leg ... and his life.
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Most nights rugby player Henry Clunies-Ross has his sleep interrupted by a wound on his leg - a still troublesome and gruesome reminder of one of the scariest moment of his life.
Before each training session with Sydney University and games in the Shute Shield club rugby premiership, the former Australian Sevens player applies a dressing and padding to protect his leg from further injury.
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And then he does his utmost to avoid going anywhere near a corner post.
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“I still don’t like them,” said Ross, who cut his leg to the muscle on the exposed metal base of the post in a game last year and contracted necrotising fasciitis - a bacteria which saw him hospitalised for three weeks and eventually undergo five surgeries to keep his limb - and life.
“I was frightened of corner posts for a long while. I saw a psychologist, and still do. It really helped.
“It was massive battle in my career.”
One in three or four don’t survive this disease, a lot lose their limbs. If I didn’t go to hospital I would most likely have lost my leg or worse
Incredibly, Ross returned to rugby last season but in 2020 has lifted to a new level.
The speedster has been a revelation for Sydney University this season, despite admitting his leg wound - a reminder of his horrific battle against the deadly flesh-eating bacteria - still causes him angst.
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“The wound itself gives me grief daily,” said Clunies-Ross, a recruitment consultant in finance who live in Randwick.
“It’s a skin graft so it’s a thin, delicate piece of skin and when I exercise it does leak and break down.
“I’m up in the middle of the night bleeding and leaking, seeing plastic surgeons and redressing it each day. I know a lot about moisturisers and oil and things.
“It is just something I have to live with. It’s a reminder of tougher times.
“But it doesn’t affect me performance wise. I wrap it up and put padding on.’’
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Clunies-Ross considers himself lucky to be alive - a fact he contributes to receiving hospital care within the first 24 hours of the injury after originally having 100 stitches put in the wound.
“One in three or four don’t survive this disease, a lot lose their limbs,” said Clunies-Ross.
“If I didn’t go to hospital I would most likely have lost my leg or worse.”
Sydney University take on Northern Suburbs on Saturday in their preliminary final.
Two weeks ago the Students beat Norths to claim their sport in the top six.
PRELIMINARY FINALS
Saturday: Pittwater Rugby Park
Northern Suburbs v Sydney University, 1:55pm
Gordon v Randwick, 4pm
Sunday: Pittwater Rugby Park
Eastern Suburbs v Eastwood, 3pm