North Melbourne AFL star Paul Curtis' overseas holiday turned into a life-or-death situation when he fell ill. The 22-year-old was on a trip to Bali with his partner, Kelera, when he suddenly became violently ill, prompting a medical evacuation back to Australia. But here's where it gets controversial... Infectious diseases expert Dr. Clay Golledge believes that the initial care Curtis received in London was substandard, and that he should not have been allowed to board a plane to Bali with oral antibiotics. Curtis' health scare began in London, where he was initially turned away from a hospital, only to return a day later still feeling suffocating. He waited eight hours to be seen, and was eventually given stronger medication. However, 16 hours into his flight to Bali, Curtis had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics, causing his face to swell and a rash to break out over his body. A visit to a Bali hospital revealed the diagnosis: an empyema, a potentially life-threatening build-up of fluid and pus on his lungs. Indonesian doctors tried more antibiotics, but it didn't work. Curtis was then flown to Perth for emergency surgery, where almost a litre of pus was removed from his lung, and a tube was inserted to catch the rest of the infection. After a brutal three-month recovery, Curtis remarkably remains a chance to play in Round 1 in eight weeks' time. Throughout his time in hospital and the difficult period that followed, Curtis' focus was on his three-year-old son Elijah. Video calls from hospital beds kept him going. 'I'm missing dadda, I'm missing dadda,' Curtis recalled. 'He was showing me all his toys. I knew I had to be healthy first to provide for him.' Curtis' experience highlights the importance of proper medical care, and the potential consequences of inadequate treatment. It also serves as a reminder of the fragility of life, and the importance of cherishing every moment with loved ones. So, what do you think? Do you agree with Dr. Golledge's assessment of the situation? Or do you think the care Curtis received was adequate? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
