A seemingly innocent accident on holiday has turned into a scary trip to hospital for former Adelaide Crows AFL player James Rowe.
The 24-year-old was sent to hospital with a knee that had swollen to the size of a watermelon and is currently recovering at home on an IV after a scooter accident in Bali.
However, it wasn’t the accident that caused the most damage: a simple mistake landed him in hospital again after returning to Australia.
Rowe, who was delisted at the end of the 2022 season and currently plays for SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens, only required a handful of stitches as a result of the accident.
It was a dip in the Murray River with Adelaide Crows star Harry Schoenberg that did most of the damage.
James Rowe is recovering at home on an IV drip after his knee became seriously infected following a scooter accident in Bali
Rowe (pictured second from right) was spending time in Bali with friends when the accident happened, but it was what he did when he got home that caused the real damage
James’ father Stephen, a prominent football commentator and former Adelaide player himself, explained to the radio station what had happened FIVEFaa.
“Our little Jimmy has been having a bit of a rough time. He cut his knee in a minor scooter accident in Bali. I think he had four stitches – so there’s lesson one,” Stephen said.
“Last Saturday he swam in the Murray River with an open cut – well, there’s lesson number two, I guess.
“There should be a public announcement for that because I’ve been to the emergency room [emergency department] on and off for the past week, and they get about 10 patients a day – that Murray River is not good for insects.
‘Within four hours of swimming his knee swelled like a balloon.
‘Happy [Crows player] Harry Schoenberg’s father had a similar infection [and] immediately took him to the hospital. Within four hours it was the size of a watermelon and couldn’t walk.”
James was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital but they had to leave due to the huge demand in the emergency department.
“I picked him up and took him to the RAH, we sat there in A&E, he was all bored, we weren’t being looked at because there were thousands of people there, so there’s lesson number three: hang in there,” Stefanus said.
But as the knee continued to swell, they were forced to return.
“We spent last Sunday in hospital, James was treated and then sent home, home care nurses looked after him – well, there’s lesson number four: we probably should have admitted him to a private hospital,” Stephen said.
‘After about five antibiotics he was rushed to hospital on Thursday, his leg looked terrible, the infection was growing. They let him in and there was a little more urgency. He had MRIs and ultrasounds, there were surgeons, there were smears and cultures.”
Rowe had a great start to his AFL career but was dropped by the Adelaide Crows at the end of the 2022 season
Rowe’s father revealed that an ill-advised dip in the Murray River caused the most damage
Rowe is now home and on the mend, but will still require medical care.
‘But look, he’s at home, every six hours he has a clinical nurse [give him] another antibiotic through the IV, there’s a doctor who calls him every 12 hours,” Stephen continued.
“He’s got a fair fight under his belt, fingers crossed.
“He still has a bit of a battle to fight, but there are a few lessons, and if people are listening, don’t swim in the Murray with an open cut.”