The impact of head knocks has been laid bare at an inquiry into concussion as the family members of affected elite AFL players have spoken out about the suffering they cause.
Anita Frawley, the wife of AFL champion Danny Frawley who died after he “drove his car into a tree” in September 2019, spoke about the “suffering” head knocks had on his mental state later in life at the public senate hearing into concussions and repeated head trauma in contact sports.
An autopsy of Frawley’s mind discovered he was affected by low stage persistent traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – a type of mind illness linked to repeated blows to the pinnacle.
Frawley sustained an estimated 20 concussions throughout his profession, together with accidents that induced him to lose consciousness, undergo extreme complications and imaginative and prescient issues.
CTE can solely be recognized after an individual dies and is linked to temper and behavioural adjustments and infrequently cognitive and reminiscence impairment.
Mrs Frawley broke down whereas addressing the inquiry when talking about how her husband’s dying continues to have an effect on their household.
“My two eldest daughters both just got engaged, during the happiest moments of their life so far, the incredible sadness that their dad is not here to celebrate with them and to walk them down the aisle is always present,” she mentioned by tears.
“Our lives will forever be touched by sadness even in our happiest times.”
She additionally revealed the bodily toll that Frawley’s psychological well being wrestle and dying had on her.
“My heart gave way and I suffered Takotsubo, a broken heart disease that almost ended my life as well,” she mentioned.
“The incredible stress of living with someone who has CTE, seeing how much my children were suffering and then the eventual suicide and loss which is too much for my heart to carry.”
The coroner discovered CTE was a “potential contributor” to the despair Frawley skilled earlier than his dying, however mentioned the diploma of its affect can’t be concluded as it’s unattainable to determine at what level the illness started.
“Although CTE has long been associated with mental health symptoms including depression and aggression, no strong causal link with suicide has been established,” the Mental Health Investigator discovered.
Frawley had stopped taking his remedy within the months earlier than his dying, and his spouse mentioned his psychological well being had deteriorated additional.
“I remember standing in our kitchen with fear in my eyes, looking at my husband and just thinking ‘I don’t know this man and who he is’,” she mentioned.
“This is not the man I married, this is because the Danny I married loves life and lived it to the full.”
Ms Frawley mentioned sporting our bodies “need to act now” to forestall extra folks struggling like her late husband, saying the AFL wanted to make sure that athletes are medically ready to return on the sphere after concussions and urged them to implement a “comprehensive health and support scheme” for individuals who might undergo from CTE.
“What could be of a higher priority for the competition than looking after the individuals on his shoulders the success of the game now stands.” she mentioned.
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Source: www.perthnow.com.au
