- Tony Sexton almost died after a recent chainsaw accident
- NRL star son Toby Sexton was ‘losing it’, his dad is his hero
- Bulldogs halfback, 22, has vowed to cherish his life
NRL star Toby Sexton has vowed to ‘appreciate everything so much more’ after his father Tony cheated death following a workplace accident involving a chainsaw.
Sexton, 22, was “losing it” when his mother called him and told him his old man “might not make it” after losing two and a half pints of blood.
“She said don’t worry, but I booked the first flight I could to the Gold Coast, I lost it, to be honest, there’s no other way to put it,” the Bulldogs halfback said Nine news.
‘Dad is my hero, everything I do is for him. ‘I was in tears, I was in shock. I didn’t know what to do, [thinking] whether he would make it.’
Fortunately, his father Tony survived, and he has his other son to thank for that.
NRL star Toby Sexton has vowed to ‘appreciate everything so much more’ after his father Tony (pictured left) cheated death following a chainsaw workplace accident
The incident put everything into perspective for Toby Sexton, who made his NRL debut with the Titans in 2021 before moving to the Bulldogs last season
The halfback knows he will have to perform in 2024 when he is given the number 7 jersey for the first time, as the heat increases on coach Cameron Ciraldo
Matt Sexton, who happens to be studying to be a paramedic, was at the scene when Mr Sexton severed his arm, vein and artery with a hedge trimmer.
He managed to keep his father stable before an ambulance arrived, after which Tony Sexton was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency surgery.
Remarkably, he has since made a full recovery and the incident has put everything into perspective for his eldest son, who made his NRL debut with the Titans in 2021 before seeking more first-grade opportunities with Belmore last season.
“The fact that it turned out the way it did and that my dad has only been in a brace for a few months now to be able to work full-time again is honestly remarkable,” Sexton said.
The halfback has looked promising after moving to Sydney but knows he will have to deliver in 2024 when he gets the No. 7 jersey for the first time as the heat heats up under coach Cameron Ciraldo.
With the likes of Stephen Crichton, Blake Taaffe, Josh Curran, Jaeman Salmon and Jake Turpin all joining the club, the time for excuses is over.
Another 15th-place finish will be unacceptable to Canterbury fans, whose patience is collectively running thin.
Ciraldo’s men open their 2024 NRL campaign against arch-rivals Parramatta at Commbank Stadium on March 9.