South Sydney legend Nathan Merritt’s miracle recovery after being placed on life support

Just three weeks ago Nathan Merritt was on life support and there were grave concerns about his situation. Today, the South Sydney legend is responsive, standing and smiling.

Nathan Merritt. Picture: Stewart McLean

Former South Sydney flyer Nathan Merritt is responsive, standing and smiling as he continues to make a remarkable recovery from a near-death experience.

Just three weeks ago Merritt was on life support and there were grave concerns about his situation after being hospitalised at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown.

The try-scoring great was found unresponsive at his aunt’s home. The situation was extremely serious but Merritt woke from his coma and his health has significantly improved in the past fortnight.

A beaming Merritt was pictured holding a coffee cup dressed in a grey t-shirt and black shorts.

The photo was posted on a South Sydney Rabbitohs Supporter Group on Facebook with Merritt’s permission.

“I visited Nathan Merritt in hospital this morning and you’ll be pleased to know he’s doing well and on the mend,” the fan wrote.

South Sydney legend Nathan Merritt. Picture: Stephen Drew

“He gave me permission to post this and asked me to thank everyone for their kind words, thoughts and prayers.”

Following the overwhelming sentiment from the original post, the fan reached out to Merritt again.

“I visited Nathan again to show him my post had over 1400 likes and loves (over just 24 hours), told him that it’s not all Rabbitoh fans (just those on this Facebook page) and even 10 years after he stopped playing for the Rabbitohs, the fans still love him,” the fan wrote.

“The look on his face said it all, and made his recovery even quicker. Thank you everyone.”

His family, friends and the rugby league community rallied around Merritt with his former club South Sydney lending its support.

“We are so happy to hear directly from his immediate family that Merro’s condition is improving,” the Rabbitohs said recently.

“He is being looked after by the best medical practitioners, and he is in the thoughts of everyone connected to the Rabbitohs. It will be a slow recovery, but it’s a battle he’s in with all of our support.

It is understood that he suffered an adverse reaction to prescribed pain medication.

Merritt is one of South Sydney’s all-time greats.

The one-time NSW player sits third on South Sydney’s try-scoring tally with 151 tries from 208 NRL games for the club. He also played two seasons with Cronulla between 2004 and 2005.