Melbourne United Coach Undergoes Emergency Surgery for Burst Appendix
Melbourne United's head coach Dean Vickerman was forced to miss his team's crucial National Basketball League clash against the Cairns Taipans on Thursday night after being rushed to hospital with a serious case of appendicitis. The 54-year-old coach experienced severe abdominal pains before travelling to Cairns for the scheduled match, ultimately requiring emergency surgical intervention.
Sudden Medical Emergency Forces Coaching Change
Vickerman first noticed concerning symptoms late on Tuesday, the day before his team was scheduled to travel north to Queensland. Despite the discomfort, he proceeded to the airport the following morning but immediately recognised something was seriously wrong when he found himself needing to sleep on the airport floor rather than visiting the Qantas lounge as usual.
'That was a red flag for me when I said: "You're not going to the Qantas lounge, you're going to the gate to just sleep for an hour on the floor" and I'd never done that before,' Vickerman revealed in an interview with Code Sports.
Upon arriving in Cairns, the coach checked into his hotel room where the pain intensified dramatically throughout the day. Realising he wouldn't be able to coach the upcoming game, Vickerman made the difficult decision to remove himself from the clash and seek immediate medical attention.
Emergency Surgery and Hospital Stay
Medical examinations at Cairns Hospital revealed that Vickerman's appendix had already ruptured before he reached the emergency department, creating a potentially dangerous situation requiring urgent surgical intervention. Doctors quickly prepared him for surgery to prevent infection or sepsis from developing.
'That was a scary part of it,' the coach admitted, describing the fourteen-hour wait before his operation. 'Cairns hospital was amazing, did a hell of a job, and I was really fortunate to have the people around me to make good decisions.'
Following successful surgery, Vickerman remained in hospital where he was able to watch his team's game against the Taipans from his recovery bed, though his memory of the match remains hazy due to post-operative medication and fatigue.
Team Adjustments and Game Outcome
With Vickerman hospitalised, Melbourne United's management swiftly organised for assistant coach David Barlow to catch an emergency flight to Queensland. Assistant Rhys Carter assumed head coaching responsibilities for the game against Cairns.
'I knew there was a fair chance if I didn't get better, I'm no good here,' Vickerman explained regarding the coaching change. 'So we were having the conversation: "Can we get Barlow on a flight? Yep, we can get that one done. There's a flight that gets in on time, and now, Rhys, you're coaching — good luck with it."'
Despite the coaching disruption, Melbourne United secured an 89-85 victory against the Taipans, with guard Milton Doyle leading the scoring with 25 points. Vickerman watched the game from his hospital bed but later admitted needing to rewatch the match during his flight home as his recollection was unclear.
Recovery and Return Journey
Vickerman faced uncertainty about his ability to travel home with the team following surgery, with doctors initially suggesting he might need to remain in Cairns for up to four days before being cleared to fly. However, by meeting specific medical criteria and following treatment protocols, he received clearance to travel.
'I had to meet certain criteria and I made sure I did so I could get the tick off from the doctors and get the prescriptions and the treatment plan,' Vickerman explained.
The coach was able to fly home with the team but missed their subsequent 100-91 defeat against the Illawarra Hawks on Sunday, with Carter continuing in the head coaching role during Vickerman's recovery period. The coach is now recuperating well following the medical emergency that nearly prevented his return journey.
