Former National Rugby League (NRL) athlete "Slammin' Sam" Backo is recovering at Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane after undergoing a quadruple bypass heart surgery following a heart attack last April.
He was known for his career as an athlete in the NRL, especially for representing his home state Queensland in the league's State of Origin games against its rival, New South Wales (NSW).
After he retired, Backo went into obscurity and worked as a roofer, which exacerbated the pain in his knees after years of playing Rugby League football. He suffered from a massive heart attack while undergoing double knee replacement surgery in Cairns Base Hospital.
It was reported Backo went into a coma following the heart attack and was clinically dead for about two minutes. He said his recovery was remarkable.
"If I wasn't already in hospital, I wouldn't be here now," he said. "The last three months, mentally, physically, and emotionally, [were] probably...the hardest three months of my life."
Support From Across State Lines
While in the hospital, Backo's wife, Christabel Wareen-Backo, set up a GoFundMe page to gather funds to be used towards his recovery. She said her husband had to give up his work "due to his current situation."
"The personal care support required also limits my hours of employment," she wrote.
While he solidly supports his state's side in the State of Origin games, fans from both Queensland and NSW set their differences aside to form a united front to wish him well and financially support his recovery.
"I've had messages from boys from the NSW side," he said. "[T]hey've contacted me to see how I'm going and given me support."
Outside State of Origin, he played for teams such as the Brisbane Broncos and the Canberra Raiders. He also played for the Leeds Rhinos in the English Super League and represented Australia in the 1988-89 Rugby League World Cup.
Concerning Backo's hospitalization, the Raiders released a statement encouraging its fans to contribute to his fund "should people wish to donate."
Strength Beyond the Grave
Backo was the son of the late indigenous activist Dr. Evelyn Scott. He saw his mother as "a hero" for advocating reconciliation and the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians for more than 30 years.
"[Her] role in Aboriginal affairs...[is] something we'll always be proud of," he said.
Since his retirement from football, Backo followed his mother's footsteps in supporting grassroots Indigenous initiatives in the community, especially in assisting men coming into contact with the justice system in terms of employment and psychological assistance.
Scott was featured in a Google Doodle this week.
Backo also hoped his experience would send a message to Indigenous Australians, health agencies, and governments to close the gap in ensuring better health checks for First Nations people.
"If you're Indigenous and 45, or even younger, go and get your heart checked," he said.
