- Followed hernia pain after attending Origin II in Perth
- Operation followed last week for AFL legend
- Continues to rebuild his life after drug addiction
Footy great Ben Cousins is recovering after being rushed to hospital for surgery on a hernia that left him in agony after he put off treatment because he was ‘in denial’.
The former West Coast and Richmond AFL star turned footy commentator had the procedure last Friday in Perth after the ailment left him in such a bad way he was ‘ready to pass out’ after attending the State of Origin match last Wednesday night.
‘I’m a little tender actually. I went in for a hernia op on Friday — not much fun,’ he told Triple M.
‘I had a little bubble or lump pop up where it probably shouldn’t a couple of months ago, and I’ve been in denial, if you like.
‘I hadn’t gone in and had the ultrasound and I thought I’d put it off until the end of the footy season, I’d hang on for 12 more games — you’d swear I was still playing.
‘But I went to the State of Origin on Wednesday night, it was a great game, got home, and then I went in to put my daughter to sleep, and I sat on her bed, and then out of nowhere, this pain came.
Footy great Ben Cousins is recovering after being rushed to hospital for surgery on a hernia that left him in agony after he put off treatment because he was ‘in denial’
The former West Coast star turned footy commentator had the procedure last Friday in Perth after the ailment left him in such a bad way he was ‘ready to pass out’ after attending the State of Origin match last Wednesday night
‘I may have been in as much pain (before in my life), but I have never been in more. I was ready to pass out, all this sort of stuff, couldn’t talk.
‘I did go down (like) Autumn leaves.’
Despite the pain, Cousins went to sleep at home — but took himself to hospital last Thursday morning.
‘So, the next day I did my best to try and get seen as quickly as possible, so I went in (to hospital) the next day,’ he said.
Last month Cousins posted an emotional tribute on social media after losing a good friend to cancer, with the tragedy coming just before the sudden death of his premiership-winning footy teammate Adam Selwood.
Cousins’ good friend Chass Guthrie lost his battle with the killer disease, just weeks after Cousins caught up with him in Brisbane.
‘A time to tip the hat to my friend @thechasslounge,’ he wrote on Instagram.
‘I admired your approach to life, loved your sense of humour and gentle nature and have been amazed by your strength.
Cousins won a premiership in 2006 (pictured) – but then a drug addiction ruined his sporting career and also saw the champion West Coast Eagles midfielder repeatedly jailed
‘I’ll miss you. Rest in peace.’
In March, Channel 7 announced Cousins was poised to join AFLW great Daisy Pearce, his former West Coast teammate Mark LeCras and ex-Fremantle skipper Shaun McManus on the broadcaster’s calls of home games this season involving both WA clubs.
The premiership winner in 2006 also snared a full-time position on Perth radio station Mix94.5 in February, following on from his role on Seven’s Dancing With The Stars last year.
That came after he made his debut as a Seven News sports presenter in Perth in June 2023, where he impressed the station’s bosses.
