Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews returned home today (Monday) after being discharged from a six-day stay at the Alfred Hospital following a major fall.
Andrews released a statement this afternoon saying he needs to undertake comprehensive program of physiotherapy and take leave for at least six weeks.
“These are serious injuries that require me to wear a brace throughout each day except when sleeping. My doctors also want me to get rest and undertake a comprehensive program of physiotherapy. That’s why I will take a leave of absence from my duties for at least six weeks.”
The Premier had a fall last Tuesday on the wooden steps at the front of a rental beach house that his family had been staying at for the long weekend. He landed flat on his back and hit the steps hard directly below the shoulder blades fracturing at least five ribs and sustaining an acute compression fracture of the T7 vertebra.
Andrews said he narrowly avoided permanent damage to his spinal cord.
Thanking his team and Deputy Premier James, who will continue to act as Premier of Victoria, Andrews said he will provide updates his progress as and when needed.
“I want to make special mention of the Ambulance Victoria paramedics, the entire team of staff at Peninsula Private and Alfred Health from trauma specialists to spinal surgeons, cooks and cleaners and everyone in between. I’m grateful to be a Victorian patient and proud of our Victorian health system.
“It’s important that I take this rest and recovery seriously as one trauma specialist said to Cath and I last week, ‘you very narrowly avoided a life-changing injury, you should buy a Tattslotto ticket, you are very lucky to be here in one piece’.
“I’m not sure about the Tattslotto ticket but I’m certain that with rest, continued high quality care and the support of family, friends, colleagues and the Victorian community, I’ll be back doing the job I love as soon as possible.”
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