Disgraced former Australian Football League player manager Ricky Nixon has revealed he was recently rushed to hospital by ambulance following a serious fall at his Melbourne home.
Ambulance Call-Out After Bathroom Incident
The 62-year-old was photographed by a member of the public being transported on a stretcher by paramedics on Tuesday. Nixon explained he fell in the shower, knocking himself unconscious. "I must have been screaming in pain and my next door neighbour called an ambulance," he told News Corp.
He stated this was the second time in just three months he had been knocked out. Nixon claimed to have no memory of the incident but believes he hit his head on a rail. After being assessed at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he praised the staff as "fantastic," he was discharged on Wednesday morning following a successful memory test.
A History of Legal Troubles
This medical emergency follows closely on the heels of Nixon's significant legal troubles. In December, he was found guilty on four charges relating to a fraud scheme involving sports memorabilia.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard that Nixon paid approximately $18,000 in cash for over 40 footballs that were supposedly signed by the Melbourne Demons' 2021 premiership-winning side. He then sold these balls on Facebook in early October 2021, with at least three customers purchasing them for around $595 each.
The fraud was uncovered when multiple players from the premiership team testified that the signatures were not theirs. Former Melbourne player Charlie Spargo told the court three footballs bearing his name were fraudulent, noting the signature style did not match his own. Club captain Max Gawn attended court after it was discovered Nixon had signed balls using the number 13 instead of Gawn's famous number 11.
Gawn and several other 2021 premiership players, including Christian Salem, Tom McDonald, and Jake Lever, gave evidence that they did not sign the footballs.
Fallout and Well-Wishes
Nixon's conviction included charges of obtaining property by deception and deceptively using false documents. Despite his tarnished reputation, fellow football identities Sam Newman and Wayne Carey reportedly passed on their best wishes to Nixon during his hospital stay, mentioning him on their podcast 'You Cannot Be Serious'.
The incident highlights the ongoing public scrutiny of the former high-profile agent, whose career has been marred by controversy both on and off the field.
