Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox is pleading for the return of his prescription glasses after they were stolen from his apartment complex this week.
Cox took to social media to report the theft of the glasses on Friday, worth reportedly between $3000 and $4000.
“I didn’t think this would happen to me,” Cox said.
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Cox shared a picture of a Melbourne police station and thanked the staff who took the report of the theft.
7NEWS reports the theft happened at Cox’s apartment complex.
“It’s been well documented this season his prescription goggles are essential,” reporter Tom Browne said.
“His day (Friday) started at the police station.
“He just told me in the mail room of his apartment overnight a new pair that have come up from Colac have been stolen.”
Teammate Brayden Maynard also pleaded with the thieves to return Cox’s glasses.
“I actually did see something on social media … please give them back!” he said.
“He needs them, we need them.”
Cox was granted AFL approval earlier this year to wear his prescription glasses while playing, after undergoing several eye surgeries in the past few years.
The first injury stemmed from an accidental poke in the eye by then-Sun Peter Wright back in 2019.
While undergoing surgery to repair a torn retina, doctors found Cox had suffered the same injury in the other eye after a collision with Eagle Tom Barrass in the 2018 Grand Final.
As part of his recovery, Cox spoke about his fortnight in a dark room, where he was not allowed to watch TV or use a phone.
“Essentially half my eye was pulled off, half my retina fell off and I had to go into hospital, sew the thing back up and was blind,” Cox said earlier this year.
“For about 45 minutes of every hour I was on my back staring at the ceiling unable to see for two weeks. Two weeks on my own in a dark room not being able to see anything.
“People talk about quarantine being bad. Get a finger in the eye, sit in the house and not be able to get out of bed for two weeks and talk to me.
“It was probably the lowest moment of my life, I will say that. But we’ve come out the other end and whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger I guess.”
