Brent Harvey posts update from hospital after horrific leg break in local footy

A legend of the footy world has posted a positive update on Instagram after a brutal injury saw him rushed to hospital.

Former North Melbourne Kangaroos player Brent Harvey with his broken leg from a local footy fixture.

AFL icon Brent Harvey has posted a positive update to social media after suffering a sickening injury on Saturday in Melbourne.

The North Melbourne legend appeared to break his right leg below his knee and was left in agony during the first quarter of his Melbourne suburban football competition match.

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As first reported by News Corp, the Kangaroos champion fell to the ground after winning a contested possession in a seemingly innocuous incident during his North Heidelberg team’s Round 1 match in the Northern Football League.

Posting from his hospital bed, Harvey showcased his famous positivity as he updated his concerned followers on his condition.

“Thanks for all the messages guys,” Harvey wrote.

“Update. Will be getting surgery tomorrow and all will be fine.

“The positive about breaking a leg is that I have another one.”

Medical staff from both teams came onto the field to attend to Harvey.

Pictures taken of the incident show Harvey visibly distressed holding his leg. The right leg below the knee appears to have suffered serious damage and photos show his shin bone was twisted at an angle it shouldn’t have been able to.

Legs don’t go that way. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Brent Harvey was rushed to hospital from the North Heidelberg vs Heidelberg fixture. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The Herald Sun first reported the match was stopped for several minutes before Harvey was carried to the sidelines. He was then forced to wait 50 minutes for an ambulance to arrive before he was taken to Epworth Hospital.

Ambulance Victoria Union general secretary Danny Hill said the wait time was “too long”.

“Of course it’s always a concern to hear situations like this, that is way too long to wait for an ambulance,” Mr Hill said.

“Nationwide we are seeing paramedics dealing with cases that should be dealt with by a general practitioner.”

Hill said that patients were using the triple-0 emergency number as a fallback instead of waiting to see their GP.

Brent Harvey won the Herald Sun’s Player of the Year in 2008.

“That’s what is really overwhelming the system at the moment is that sort of work,” he said.

“When that happens, the crews are unavailable to respond to the real emergencies and sadly, probably, that’s what has happened to this footballer today.”

7News reported on Saturday night Harvey remains in hospital.

The 44-year-old had at times looked invincible in his career before retiring with 432 games to his name.

The five-time Kangaroos best and fairest winner kicked 518 goals for North Melbourne in a stellar 21-year AFL career.

He holds the all-time record for most AFL games and was named in North Melbourne’s Team of the Century.

Since his retirement in 2016, Harvey has served as a player-coach for North Heidelberg an in more recent times was appointed to the North Melbourne coaching staff as a development coach with the men’s team.

Originally published as Brent Harvey posts update from hospital after horrific leg break in local footy