The pain in Deine Mariner’s leg was so excruciating, he couldn’t grasp the reality of losing his leg and having his rugby league career being slammed closed.
It wasn’t until he arrived at a Sydney hospital that he realised the acute compartment syndrome diagnosis – suffered in the Broncos’ defeat to the Sydney Roosters this month – could change his life forever.
“I got rushed into surgery, so I didn’t really get to understand what was happening, but all I knew was there was a lot of pressure in my leg at the time,” Mariner revealed on Wednesday, speaking for the first time since the incident.
“The blood flow was starting to stop going into my leg. I didn’t even think of that [losing my leg] as an option until I got to the hospital and they were checking for the pulse in my foot.
“To be honest, I didn’t think about it too much – when I woke up, I saw my leg was still there. Even after, I know people were saying I could’ve [lost my leg], but I didn’t, and am pretty lucky to be in this position.”
Three weeks later and Mariner says he’s hopeful of returning to the NRL in eight weeks. At first, it was thought he had suffered a cork to his thigh, and he returned to the field to finish the game.
That was until he experienced severe pain in the early hours of the morning and called his doctor at 2.30am.
“I wasn’t too sure if they were going to pick up, but they picked up straight away and actually gave me the early diagnosis of the compartment syndrome – which I’d never heard of before – and they rushed me straight to hospital,” Mariner said.
“I was trying to go to sleep and thinking if I should call him or not, and when I really started to feel a lot of pain and I couldn’t move, that’s when I thought I’d better call him.”
Acute compartment syndrome is a condition in which dangerously high pressure builds in a muscle compartment, restricting blood flow while preventing oxygen from getting to muscles and nerves.
The 23-year-old remained in a Sydney hospital to undergo six surgeries, as doctors fought to ensure his limb remained intact. Such was the severity of his condition, Mariner’s wound needed to remain open, or else risk further damage.
“The first two surgeries they were opening up my leg to release pressure, and then over the next [four] surgeries, they had to close it up little by little. They couldn’t close it at the same time because there was a high chance it could happen again,” Mariner explained.
“That was the only part that was really draining, having to do a lot more surgeries than usual because I wasn’t used to going back under anaesthetics for that long. It was pretty full on, but I was in such good hands.”
Mariner has now returned to Brisbane as he continues his rehabilitation, and is hopeful of making a comeback in time to help the Broncos mount a late push for consecutive premierships, which would also make him available to fly the Samoan flag at this year’s World Cup in Australia.
But he wasn’t always so upbeat, admitting that he had been concerned his playing days were over.
“In a way I did. Obviously I had so much time to think because I was in that hospital all week, but I had such good support – my mum, my sister, my partner, [Broncos wellness and education manager] Adam Walsh – so I didn’t have to think like that,” Mariner said.
“I tried to look at the bright things – I was still breathing and still alive, and I think being in an ICU, I saw a lot of other people who don’t get a second chance. I was pretty grateful.”
Mariner’s next step will be to get mobility back in his leg, as he is currently unable to completely bend it. But he remains confident no more surgeries will be required.
While the Broncos took some early heat for allowing Mariner to continue to play on that fateful night, the man himself stressed he never felt any pressure from anyone to make that move, while confirming he had been told by doctors his case was so rare, they had never seen it before.
“I definitely didn’t feel any pressure to go out there that night, that was my own decision. I knew I could play, so I’m never going to not play for this team,” Mariner said.
“I can’t speak for anyone else, I can only speak for myself, but I don’t feel any pressure to play through injuries.”
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