AFL legend Richard Osborne reveals he died in an ambulance on the SCG during the Sydney Swans game
Footy legend Richard Osborne reveals he DIED in an ambulance at the SCG after a shocking hit – but it wasn’t until last year that he discovered how close he was to death
- Osborne made a sensational revelation
- Said he died after a head collision in 1993
- Had to be resuscitated in the ambulance
Legendary AFL striker Richard Osborne has revealed that a blow to the head during his career was so bad that he died on his way to hospital before being brought back to life in gruesome scenes.
In an era of some of the best forwards the game has ever seen, Osborne flew under the radar as Jason Dunstall, Gary Ablett Senior, Tony Lockett and Dermott Brereton took the spotlight.
But the 58-year-old, who played most of his career for Fitzroy, was brilliant as a decidedly underpowered striker; Kicking 574 goals from 283 matches and pulling in some huge shots.
But his career was about to be cut short in the most horrific way when his Swans took on Geelong.
During his stint in Sydney in 1993, Osborne was involved in one of the most sickening headbutts in recent memory, clashing with teammate Dale Lewis as the pair attempted to tackle Cats star Paul Lynch.
Legendary AFL striker Richard Osborne has sensationally revealed he died on his way to hospital after a sickening head impact while playing for the Swans
Osborne kicked 574 goals from 283 matches in an outstanding career, mostly with Fitzroy
Top football pundit Andy Maher was at the game and described the horror of watching Osborne lay motionless on the turf, knocked out before he even hit the ground.
“I was watching this game at the time, the collision with you (Osborne) and Dale Lewis… it was quite distressing to see you on the ground. I think it was shut down for 25 minutes that day, we were all worried,” he said on Channel 7’s The Front Bar on Wednesday night, where Osborne was a guest.
Club medics rushed to his aid, while the forward lay motionless for several minutes.
The gravity of the situation was so serious that the ambulance was wheeled straight onto the field towards him as concerned teammates and opponents gathered around him.
Osborne said the paramedics literally saved his life that day by bringing him back from the dead as they rushed to the hospital.
‘I have no memories [of the incident],’ he said.
‘But I had a chance encounter twelve months ago with a Swans official; he was in the ambulance with me that day.
“I said, ‘What happened?’ he said, ‘You died on the way to the hospital.’
“I had two paramedics work all the way from the Sydney Cricket Ground to the hospital to revive me. When he told me it was pretty creepy.”
Osborne revealed on Channel 7’s The Front Bar that he was ‘feeling a bit average’ after he died in the ambulance following his sickening head throb
The hosts were incredulous: ‘You were dead? Have you stopped breathing?’
Osborne replied with all the sarcasm of a typical 1980s footy player, “Yeah, which made me feel a little average for two days.”
The legendary Ablett was on the field that day as his side triumphed 129-104 after the game finally resumed, with ‘God’ scoring seven goals, six down.
He said after the 1993 game that players were concerned when they saw Osborne getting attention on the pitch.
“Richard got hurt badly that day, got a blow to the head… most of the people in the arena that day were very concerned about him, but I was just happy to see him recovering,” said Ablett Snr.
“Most players know what it’s like to take a big hit and you just sympathize with them and hope they’re okay.”