Hero grandmother who saved AFL icon after crash speaks out
The first person on the scene of Tony Modra’s horrifying truck crash on Thursday night has spoken out, revealing she had no idea she was comforting an AFL legend.
Linda Cameron, a 78-year-old great-grandmother from South Australia, was first on the scene at the Fleurieu Peninsula after she encountered a debris-strewn scene and Modra as she was driving down the road.
The great-grandmother was overcome by emotion while retelling the story of her heroics. Nine News Adelaide
Police report that Modra’s truck had collided heavily with a tree, leaving the 57-year-old with serious injuries.
“I was so frightened for him, and got out of the car and ran down,” Cameron recalled to Nine News Adelaide.
“I saw the man (and) he was not looking good, he was clutching his face and there was a lot of blood.
“Then I said ‘Keep your hand there, and keep it tight.’ and then I thought ‘oh God, he is going to get really cold because it was freezing.’
“The wind was bitter, and every now and again his grip loosened, which frightened me a bit. I could just hear him (say his name was) “Tony”, and I told him my name and I said ‘I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay with you.’”
Cameron confirmed she had no idea she was helping an AFL legend, rather that she just wanted to help a fellow individual in trouble.
Recalling the story, the great-grandmother was overcome by emotion. Modra was airlifted to hospital and remains in the intensive care unit at Victor Harbor Hospital.
Modra’s wife released a statement on Friday morning and his former teammate Mark Ricciuto broke down in tears on radio speaking about the South Australian’s serious truck crash.
Police responded to reports a truck had crashed into a tree on Range Road at Back Valley on the Fleurieu Peninsula about 5.15pm.
On Friday morning on Triple M’s Breakfast with Roo, Ditts, and Loz show, his former Adelaide Crows teammate Ricciuto read out a statement from Modra’s wife Erica.
Tony Modra was airlifted to Flinders Medical Centre from the crash site. AFL Photos
“She wants to say a very big thank you to the first responders, called Sarah and Anthony, who saved his life and helped talk through to Erica while things were going down,” Ricciuto read.
“She wants to thank the MFS and the emergency personnel at the Victor Harbour Hospital who stabilised him and got him sorted until the intensive care team took control and looked after him.
“There are people ringing her and she obviously can’t get back to everyone, so she is a bit overwhelmed with everything.
“She said he’s going all right, it’s pretty amazing that he has got through it.
“She said he’s not going to be the same good looking Tony Modra, he’s going to have some scars. I said he can be like us for once instead of being good looking.
“He’s going OK and our fingers are crossed he’s going to get through it. He’s in a reasonable position at this stage.”
Modra played 118 games for Adelaide between 1992 and 1998, kicking 440 goals, before playing a further 47 for Fremantle, kicking another 148.
Ricciuto played his entire 312-game career with the Crows and he became emotional when speaking about Modra on Friday.
“Only about a month ago Mods rang me and said he had written a song, which anyone who knows Mods, it’s the last thing you thought he would do,” he said through tears.
Tony Modra flies high for Fremantle. .
“He’s a different fella, he’s a great fella, he’s one of my best mates.
“He didn’t want to write a book, he just wanted to write a song. He wanted to write a song about all the people he played with, but more importantly the people he didn’t play with, and he sent it to me to have a listen to. I liked it.”
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas sent his well-wishes to the former footballer.
“Mods is an SA icon who has never forgotten where he came from. Down to earth and just a really good bloke,” Malinauskas said.
“Tony and his family are in our thoughts tonight, and we all hope he’ll be OK.”
The news broke at three-quarter time as Fremantle battled Geelong at Optus Stadium on Thursday night and it cast a pall over the blockbuster clash, particularly for Dockers fans who remember Modra’s late-career stint in the west.
In his post-match press conference, Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said Modra was a “big part of the Freo family”.
The high-flying Modra was a star for both the Crows and Dockers. Jack Atley
“All I can say is I wish him and his family well and hopefully he can pull through,” he said.
“I’m thinking of him. We’re all thinking of him and his family and yeah, thoughts are with him.”
During the Thursday night broadcast on Channel 7, AFL reporter Ryan Daniels said there was “hope he will pull through but his condition tonight is very serious”.
“He’s got a real fight on his hands, Tony Modra, and all of us here are really hoping for the best,” he said.
“And if any of his family are watching this, geez, you’ve got our full support, and we’re just hoping for the best in a very tough situation.”
Commentator Brian Taylor said the news of Modra’s crash was not what “we wanted to hear”.
“It’s going to be extremely difficult for us now as a commentary team to get excited about what we’re about to see here, because that is just tragic news and we hope things get better on from here on in,” Taylor said.
Sports broadcaster Hamish McLachlan also shared his best wishes.
Linda Cameron was first one at the scene of Tony Modra's accident. Nine News Adelaide
“There’s nothing we can say other than hopefully whoever’s in charge looks after you, Mods,” he said, on the broadcast.
On Fox Footy, host Sarah Jones described Modra as “an icon of our game and one of our most loved figures”.
“Thoughts and prayers, certainly with Tony Modra, a legend of the game, and let’s hope he can pull through this,” she said.
“Sending every ounce of strength we have to him.”
