Former State of Origin and NRL star Chris Walker is lucky to be alive following a horror accident after being crushed by a shipping container.
Walker, who played over 150 NRL games for the likes of the Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters as well as 12 games for the Catalans Dragons in Super League in 2010, survived the bizarre incident despite his right leg being crushed.
The 41-year-old had been working in a pop-up bar at an event in Townsville when the shipping container fell after coming unhinged, and onto the unsuspecting Walker’s leg.
He was trapped for five minutes in appalling pain and had the nightmare that he wouldn’t see his wife or children again.
“All I thought was if I don’t get out of here I won’t see my kids or family again,” The Courier Mail reported.
“Cheating death… anxiety plus!’
“Totally overwhelmed with the support from everyone regarding my accident Friday night, thank you to everyone who has reached out I really appreciate it.
“It’s onto rehab and recovery as I have a very long hard road ahead of me.”
Walker suffered a compound fracture, with surgeons then placing a titanium rod into his leg which runs from his knee to his ankle as well as inserting two screws to keep everything in place.
It means the former Queensland Maroons star will have to learn to walk again over a period of months or even a year.
