Former Wallabies star Nic White has revealed he was left fighting for his life after contracting the same deadly condition that recently claimed the life of NASCAR champion Kyle Busch.
The popular scrum-half spent almost a month in hospital after developing sepsis following routine leg surgery, with doctors battling to stop the infection spreading through his body.
White, 35, has now spoken publicly about the frightening ordeal, admitting there were periods where his condition became so serious that his future was uncertain.
His story has gained renewed attention following the death of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Busch, whose death certificate revealed a devastating chain of events that began with untreated pneumonia and ended with fatal complications caused by sepsis.
White’s brush with the condition came only months after what was supposed to be the perfect ending to a remarkable rugby career.
After initially announcing his retirement following Australia’s victory over the British and Irish Lions in Sydney last year, White’s farewell turned into something of a running joke among teammates.
Former Wallabies star Nic White spent almost a month in hospital battling life-threatening sepsis after surgery
White says parts of his lengthy recovery became ‘touch and go’ after post-surgery complications
Kyle Busch’s death highlighted the deadly dangers of untreated infections progressing into sepsis
Injuries forced him to delay retirement and return for several more Tests, including Australia’s famous comeback victory over South Africa at Ellis Park, their first win there since 1963.
Following further appearances against Argentina and New Zealand, White finally called time on a career that spanned 16 years and 77 Tests for the Wallabies.
But his toughest battle was still to come.
White had undergone an osteotomy procedure in Perth in October to correct his famously bowed legs.
The operation involved straightening both shins and a femur using plates and screws.
Initially everything appeared to be progressing smoothly.
‘And all went well, I was flying,’ White said.
But around five weeks after surgery, things changed dramatically.
A post-surgery infection spread dangerously close to White’s lungs, throat and heart during recovery
Doctors treated White with intensive intravenous antibiotics as his condition rapidly deteriorated in hospital
‘About five weeks post-operation, I got an infection and I probably left it a little bit too long to get sorted,’ he said.
‘Maybe that’s the extra rugby player in me, it went a bit far.’
The infection quickly escalated.
‘It got quite bad, to the point where I got sepsis and it got to my lungs and throat, and pretty close to the heart, which was pretty scary,’ White said.
Sepsis occurs when the body’s response to infection becomes extreme and begins damaging its own tissues and organs.
According to the Australian Sepsis Network, around 84,000 Australians develop sepsis each year and approximately 12,000 die from the condition.
In severe cases, mortality rates can reach 50 per cent.
White admitted there were periods during his hospital stay when the outcome was far from certain.
The infection returned months later, forcing another hospital stay, surgery and further treatment
White remains on medication and continues monitoring closely for any return of sepsis
‘It was probably a couple of days and nights there in hospital that were a bit touch and go,’ he said.
Doctors launched an intensive treatment plan involving lengthy courses of intravenous antibiotics.
‘I spent the best part of a month in hospital, and got back on my feet,’ White said.
‘I had an awesome infection specialist look after me and was on IV antibiotics for quite a while, and still am on antibiotics now.’
Just as White thought he was recovering, the infection returned.
‘The infection unfortunately came back in our second trial game and I ended up in hospital again for about a week and a half,’ he said.
Doctors were forced to remove the surgical plates and begin another round of treatment.
The illness took a significant toll on White’s body.
White is now rebuilding his coaching career after surviving the serious life-threatening illness
He lost 12 kilograms during the ordeal and spent parts of his recovery in a wheelchair.
For a player renowned throughout rugby for his energy and competitiveness, being forced to slow down proved one of the greatest challenges.
‘Slowing down’s probably the hardest thing I’ve had to manage over the last five or six months,’ White said.
The former Wallabies star credited his wife Melissa and sons Leo, Sonny and Vin for helping him through the darkest period of his recovery.
Photographs shared by White during his hospital stay showed him surrounded by family as he continued his fight back to health.
Eight months after his initial diagnosis, White remains on medication and continues to monitor for any signs of recurrence.
‘It all looks like it’s behind me now, which is good,’ he said.
‘But it’s something I’ll just have to monitor for the next at least 12 months.
‘Sepsis can stay dormant and then rear its ugly head again, so I just have to keep an eye on it.’
White’s ordeal has drawn comparisons to the tragic death of Busch.
The NASCAR legend’s death certificate revealed he suffered bacterial pneumonia for ‘days to weeks’ before it progressed into sepsis.
The sepsis triggered disseminated intravascular coagulation, a condition that causes abnormal clotting throughout the body, before leading to haemorrhagic shock.
Busch died on May 21 at the age of 41.
An emergency call reportedly revealed he had been experiencing shortness of breath, felt overheated and had been coughing up blood before becoming unresponsive.
His family later confirmed that severe pneumonia had progressed into sepsis, causing ‘rapid and overwhelming associated complications’.
While Busch’s story ended in tragedy, White’s has provided a powerful reminder of the importance of recognising symptoms and seeking treatment quickly.
The former Wallabies halfback is now slowly resuming his post-playing career as an assistant coach with the Western Force.
After months of being limited to laptop analysis and coaching meetings, he recently returned to spending full weeks on his feet with players.
‘Last week was my first week where I was with the boys all week on my feet for the first time, which was quite exciting,’ White said.
‘This year hasn’t quite gone to plan, but it puts things in perspective pretty quick as well, on a lot of fronts, with family and footy.’
For now, White says he is focused on one thing above all else.
‘A lot of people ask me things like, ‘Oh, do you miss the game?” he said.
‘No, not at all. Man, I’m flat stick just getting healthy again.’