Ben Cousins undergoes surgery during night in hospital
AFL great Ben Cousins has spent a night in hospital to have a hernia operation after almost passing out in pain at home.
The 2005 Brownlow medallist and West Coast champion attended State of Origin II in Perth last Wednesday without any sign of an issue, but was in agonising discomfort hours later when he got home.
Speaking to Triple M on Tuesday night, Cousins said it's the most pain he's ever been in.
'I'm a little tender actually. I went in for a hernia op on Friday — not much fun,' he he said.
'I had a little bubble or lump pop up where it probably shouldn't a couple of months ago, and I've been in denial, if you like.
'I hadn't gone in and had the ultrasound and I thought I'd put it off until the end of the footy season, I'd hang on for 12 more games — you'd swear I was still playing.
'But I went to the State of Origin on Wednesday night, it was a great game, got home, and then I went in to put my daughter to sleep, and I sat on her bed, and then out of nowhere, this pain came.
'I may have been in as much pain (before in my life), but I have never been in more. I was ready to pass out, all this sort of stuff, couldn't talk.
'I did go down (like) Autumn leaves.'
Despite the pain, Cousins stayed home and went to sleep — but had to take himself to hospital when he woke up.
'So, the next day I did my best to try and get seen as quickly as possible, so I went in (to hospital) the next day,' he said.
It's been a rocky couple of months for Cousins, who last month mourned two separate friends.
Former Eagles teammate Adam Selwood tragically passed away just two days after Cousins's personal friend Chass Guthrie also died.
'A time to tip the hat to my friend, Chass Guthrie,' Cousins wrote at the time.
'I admired your approach to life, loved your sense of humour and gentle nature, and have been amazed by your strength.
'I'll miss you. Rest in peace.'
Cousins was among a host of AFL stars who attended Selwood's memorial service. Ben Cousins at Adam Selwood's memorial service. Credit: Paul Kane/AFL Photos / via Getty Images
The 2006 grand final winner was remembered at his funeral as a brilliant role-player and a loving father-of-two and husband to Fiona since his death.
'We will miss Adam deeply,' Fiona said in a family statement.
'His spirit, kindness and the joy he brought to every room, his determination, the lessons he shared and his infectious personality will stay us with always.'
Premiership teammates Chris Judd, Ben Cousins, Daniel Kerr, David Wirrpanda, Beau Waters and Sam Butler were among the players to attend Adam's memorial on Wednesday.
West Coast's 2018 premiership players Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras, along with Eagles greats Matt Priddis, Andrew Gaff and Nic Naitanui, were also there.
Geelong great Tom Hawkins, a close mate of Adam's brother Joel, was in attendance while former Cats players Jordan Clark and Quinton Narkle, who now play for Fremantle, were there with Dockers coach Justin Longmuir.
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