‘2-3L of blood internal bleeding’: Misdiagnosis rules Mason Cox out of Anzac Day

Collingwood’s American giant Mason Cox is out of the traditional Anzac Day clash after the doctors got his injury very very wrong.

Collingwood star Mason Cox has revealed he will miss the traditional Anzac Day clash against Essendon as his injury is much worse than first thought.

Cox hasn’t played since round two after a bump was deemed to have been a broken rib.

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But the 32-year-old Texan revealed that he had actually suffered a lacerated spleen, which he said caused significant internal bleeding.

Speaking on KIIS 101.1’s Jase and Lauren, Cox revealed he’d been essentially on bed rest.

“The last time I was in here, I was pretty sick but it’s literally a lacerated spleen, I had two-three litres of blood internal bleeding into the system, which is not ideal,” he said.

“Essentially the next day woke up and went to the doctor and I was in hospital 30 minutes later. I had a little operation like a crazy operation that goes into your spleen and plugs things up and the last two to three weeks, just doing nothing.

“I can’t get the heartrate up, can’t work out or anything like that so just walking around is the most that I can do.”

It was information he probably wishes he had in advance after he trained the week after the injury.

“That was the dumbest thing you could do,” Cox said with a laugh.

“After I had the operation, I was okay for a bit but for the first four-day period, it was kind of misdiagnosed.

“We thought it was a broken rib and then we looked at the scans further and the radiologist realised he missed something.

“That was internal bleeding, which is pretty crazy to think.

“It was an interesting week, looking back on it, it was pretty serious and the fact I live alone – if something does happen and it becomes like a ruptured spleen, it would be very serious.”

Mason Cox was much more seriously injured than first thought. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Cox said he was still trying to help at the club as injuries to himself and Darcy Cameron have the team using Billy Frampton in the ruck, and Frampton hasn’t played much in the position.

His return date is still up in the air as well as the club will need another medical check up before narrowing down the date.

Unfortunately for Cox, his family were planning to come out for the Anzac clash.

“(My family) has cancelled their flights now (for Anzac Day) but they’ll move them to later in the year if all goes well,” he said.

“I love a big game, love Anzac Day but unfortunately won’t be playing probably.”