Australian cricket star Glenn Maxwell has revealed he could have lost his foot in the horror leg break he suffered at a friend’s 50th birthday party last month.
Maxwell was pretending to chase a mate when they both slipped in an “innocuous” incident on synthetic grass, before the friend fell across the cricketer’s leg.
The 34-year-old admits he “felt every part of” the resulting leg break as he lay on the ground in pain.
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Speaking about the horror ordeal on Fox Cricket, Maxwell revealed the moment could easily have been career-ending.
“I probably wasn’t that far off losing my foot which was pretty scary,” he said.
“To be able to be out the other side (now) and starting to walk again, it’s weird you sort of have to teach yourself how to walk.”
Maxwell had previously revealed how he was forced to wait almost an hour while in pain after breaking his leg.
Maxwell ahead of rehab schedule | 00:51
“[Maxwell’s wife] Vini went and got my car and drove it around to the front and two of the guys carried me outside and put me in the back seat,” he told cricket.com.au‘s Unplayable podcast earlier this month.
“That was one of the most painful drives I’ve ever had in my life trying to hold my foot off the ground, and basically on no painkillers as well.”
Scans showed Maxwell shattered his fibula, chipped his tibia and ruptured all the ligaments in his foot.
On Monday night, Maxwell spoke about his recovery and the loneliness he’s endured in a bid to try and make it back for the end of the BBL campaign.
“I’m starting to walk around a little bit more comfortable. Hopefully get rid of the crutches in a couple of days,” he said on Fox Cricket.
“Things are starting to look up.
“(Wife Vini) has been an unbelievable support for me – basically my nurse for a month and a half taking care of me. (She’s) really helped me get through the last little bit.”
Maxwell shares leg break news | 01:33
Earlier this month, Maxwell revealed he’d lost 5kg already as a result of his harrowing injury.
But despite having no return to play date set, the Aussie all-rounder is committing every minute he can to his rehabilitation plan.
“The joint freezes up a fair bit, you lose a lot of your muscle mass in your leg,” he said.
“I’ve been going through working on an exercise bike, the pool, teaching yourself how to walk.
“I’m pretty good with my rehab. I’m able to invest all my time into it. I stay up at night icing and rehabbing and trying to do everything I possibly can to get back on the park.
“I want to be back out there with my teammates.”
Maxwell laughed when asked again if he was sober for the accident that ruined his Aussie summer.
Maxwell suffers freak leg facture | 00:37
“I probably wish I had been hammered for it,” he said.
“It was one of those incidents where I felt every part of it.
“It was pretty uncomfortable.
“It’s been a tough few weeks but things are looking up.”
Maxwell has been working as a commentator for Fox Cricket while sidelined with injury.
