Ricky Ponting reveals the moment he thought his son was dead
Aussie cricket star Ricky Ponting has opened up on his son’s terrifying near-death experiences.
Five-year-old Fletcher Ponting has come close to death twice in his short life, with his former Test captain father forced to watch helplessly on both occasions.
When Fletcher was just six weeks old he fought off meningitis as he spent weeks in ICU clinging to life.
The Ponting family’s world was turned upside down when at eight months old Fletcher contracted an infection during a hernia surgery.
Ponting recalled the night the infection shut down his son’s body as the cricket great stood by while over 15 doctors and nurses attempted to save his life.
“He was just limp. I thought to myself, ‘He’s gone!’ Every nurse and doctor from the level rushed into the room at the same time - it was like a code red,” Ponting told The Herald Sun.
“It’s where your mind goes. Your body goes numb. You are helpless. There’s nothing scarier.”
The MRSA infection left Fletcher in excruciating pain as it took hold of him.
“I thought he was going to come out with his whole right side cut out. Luckily, they got it before it got into his flesh and took over his body.”
Ponting said he was glad his wife Rianna wasn’t in the room that night because it would still be “haunting her to this day”.
He said his family appreciates just how fortunate they were as Fletcher made it out alive out of two potentially fatal situations - especially after their experiences with the Ponting Foundation.