NRL great Owen Craigie has revealed that doctors told him he should have died when he was left paralysed down one side of his body by a stroke that hit him when he was sleeping last month.
The 48-year-old premiership winner with the Newcastle Knights has given an incredibly raw account of the night he almost passed away after falling asleep watching Netflix in front of his television.
He also explained that his health scare bore eerie similarities to the death of his father.
‘Everything was gone – my quad [thigh muscle], calf, fingers, arm, everything,’ Craigie told News Corp.
‘You could punch me in the right side of my body and I wouldn’t even feel it. Everything there was just disconnected.
‘They [doctors] said I should have passed away in my sleep. That was the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me.
Doctors told Newcastle Knights great Owen Craigie (pictured) that he should have died when he suffered a stroke in his sleep last month
The 48-year-old was paralysed down the right side of his body when he woke up – and was unable to recall the names of everyday objects in hospital
Craigie (pictured playing for Souths) was regarded as one of the most gifted rugby league players in Australian history
‘What if I’d died? What would my kids think?
‘Dad passed away, died on his lounge from a stroke.’
It took Craigie 45 agonising minutes to walk down the stairs of his home before being taken to hospital.
Once he was on the ward, the shocks kept coming as he discovered he was suddenly unable to identify everyday objects.
‘They did some tests on me, asking, “What’s this vegetable? What’s this colour?”
‘I’m looking at these things and I couldn’t tell them. I was dumbfounded.’
Craigie explained that two fellow former footy greats played key roles as he recovered from the horrifying episode.
Souths great Nathan Merritt – who is fighting an awful health battle of his own – was on the phone every day to offer his support.
Craigie drew inspiration from his fellow Indigenous footy greats Nathan Merritt and Anthony Mundine as he lay in hospital after the frightening episode
Craigie will be on blood-thinning medication for the rest of his life
And Craigie drew great inspiration from his mate Anthony Mundine, with the footy star turned boxer’s mindset becoming a shining example to him as he recovered from the stroke.
‘I’m on blood thinners for the rest of my life,’ said Craigie, who regained feeling after spending a week in Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital.
The former Souths and Tigers star must win his battle with the bottle to stay alive, too.
‘Another drink and I’m probably brown bread,’ he admitted.
‘The doctors say I’m still at high risk, so I’ve got a tablet I take every day to take away the craving for alcohol.’
Craigie played 153 first-grade matches in Australia, and won the 1997 ARL premiership with Newcastle.
He became the youngest player ever to debut for the team, at just 16 years old.
Craigie also has the honour of being known as the ‘most naturally talented player’ NRL Immortal Andrew Johns ever played with.
In 2022, Craigie revealed he gambled $2million on poker machines and horses following a marriage breakdown and battle with his mental health.
The father of three now runs the Big OC foundation, which helps people battle addiction and suicidal thoughts.
