‘Thought I was going to die’: Former Manly prop launches legal action after training collapse

Former Sea Eagles prop Lloyd Perrett is set to take legal action against the club, having suffered a life-altering seizure at training in 2017.

Lloyd Perrett of the Sea Eagles is tackled by the Sharks defence during the First NRL Elimination Final between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Cronulla Sharks at Lottoland in Sydney, Saturday, September 14, 2019. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Former Manly Sea Eagles prop Lloyd Perrett is reportedly set to take legal action against the club, having suffered a life-altering seizure at a training session in 2017.

The 29-year-old collapsed during a training session, having been denied water and reportedly forced to continue running.

Before he knew it, Perrett woke up in a hospital bed surrounded by doctors at 23-years of age and speaking to WWOS, claimed his career never recovered.

The only place to watch every game of every round LIVE with no ad-breaks during play is Fox League, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

“I didn’t want to do this but I felt like everything in my life got taken from me,” he said.

“It was gone in an instant and I am still feeling the effects, mentally and physically.

“Taking legal action has been dangled in front of me since it all happened but my manager at the time said ‘you’ll win but never play footy again’… so I held off.”

Perrett explained he decided to “take action” after the result of the inquiry into the death of former Manly star Keith Titmuss was revealed.

It was confirmed Titmuss, who collapsed during a training session in 2020, likely died after not receiving adequate treatment for exertional heat stroke.

“When I heard Keith died from heatstroke, I cried like a baby. My psychologist told me it was a condition called ‘survivor’s guilt’ because I knew that could have been me,” he said.

Lloyd Perrett of the Sea Eagles is tackled by the Sharks defence during the First NRL Elimination Final between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Cronulla Sharks at Lottoland in Sydney, Saturday, September 14, 2019. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne)

“We went on a run, weren’t allowed any water and told ‘if you don’t like it, you can take your car keys to the field and go home’.

“We had a run, then a short break, then got sent on another run… again without water, then a third run. I guess my mind was stronger than my body.

“I don’t remember what happened. I collapsed and woke up in hospital with around seven doctors and nurses around me... I thought I was going to die.”

Perrett went on to explain a nurse informed him around 60 per cent of people who suffer heat stroke die. While he survived his career quickly faltered.

He only played 13 times the following year in 2018 before featuring in only three games in 2019 before making the move to Queensland.

Perrett revealed he’d been forced to pull out of the emerging Queensland Origin team in 2017, with the Manly club who sent him a breach notice.

He also went on to explain he is taking legal action to “set a standard for players” after experiencing first hand “torture training”.

Meanwhile, former Bulldog Jackson Topine has launched legal action against the club after being forced to wrestle 30 to 35 of his teammates.

Topine alleges he suffered “psychiatric injury, deprivation of liberty, humiliation, indignity, physical exhaus­tion, physical discomfort, anxiety, embarrassment and fear” during the session.

Topine is chasing $4 million in the lawsuit, believing he had a ten year NRL career ahead of him, with a potential to earn $400,000 a season.

Originally published as ‘Thought I was going to die’: Former Manly prop launches legal action after training collapse