Nathan Yates says his wife was told to say her goodbyes as doctors feared he might not recover from a brain aneurysm late last month. The Ballarat Cricket Association great is now back home in Mt Clear following surgery and a lengthy hospital stay and counts himself lucky to still be alive. Yates, a four-time EJ Cleary Medal winner, is hopeful of making a full recovery and has been overwhelmed by the support of the community which has been there in his time of need. WATCH THE EMOTIONAL FULL INTERVIEW WITH YATES BELOW (note: a video call was required due to COVID-19 restrictions) A GoFundMe page has been established to provide financial assistance to the family, with Yates recently informed he would be made redundant due to the imminent closure of the Australian Community Media print site in Wendouree. In late July, the 38-year-old father of two was preparing to go to bed before being struck down by the "worst headache of my life". It wasn't long before Yates' wife Courtney rushed him to the Ballarat Base Hospital and then doctors made the decision to transport him to Melbourne. "Things weren't looking good when I was leaving the Base. They pretty much told the missus to say her goodbyes and I won't make it to Melbourne... so from that (I'm) pretty lucky to be going now," Yates said. "Thinking everything is going alright and (then) life throws a couple of curve balls at you like this, but we are still here to talk about it and move forward which is the best part." Yates said he wasn't able to identify any reason behind why he suffered the aneurysm and major bleed on his brain. IN OTHER NEWS "It really just came out of nowhere and probably the scariest part was there was no warning signs leading up to it," he said. "You have got to take the glass half full (approach)... I'm lucky to be here and still seeing my kids and stuff like that." Yates, who is also part of the Alfredton Baseball Club, said he is feeling well and making good progress in his return to full fitness. "Each day I'm improving at the moment which is really good. Once they first put the shunt in my head they tried to get me up and walking and moving around, but to be honest with you it was like I'd been at the pub for three days... one step forward and about three back," he said. "I thought then that I've got a bit of a road in front of me, but each day walking and everything else has got better. I'm nearly 100 per cent on my feet now with no stumbles or anything like that, which is really good." A COVID-19 outbreak at the hospital he was at in Melbourne means Yates must self isolate at home for another week or so. Those who wish to donate to the Yates family can do so by visiting the "Nathan Yates Recovery" page at gofundme.com. If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
Mt Clear cricketer Nathan Yates, pictured with wife Courtney and kids Reeve and Claudia, was rushed to hospital in Melbourne recently after suffering a brain aneurysm at home. He is now recovering at home. Picture: Adam Trafford.
Nathan Yates says his wife was told to say her goodbyes as doctors feared he might not recover from a brain aneurysm late last month.
The Ballarat Cricket Association great is now back home in Mt Clear following surgery and a lengthy hospital stay and counts himself lucky to still be alive.
Yates, a four-time EJ Cleary Medal winner, is hopeful of making a full recovery and has been overwhelmed by the support of the community which has been there in his time of need.
WATCH THE EMOTIONAL FULL INTERVIEW WITH YATES BELOW (note: a video call was required due to COVID-19 restrictions)
'I'm lucky to be here': Nathan's road to recovery after near-death experience
Nathan Yates says his wife was told to say her goodbyes as doctors feared he might not recover from a brain aneurysm late last month. The Ballarat Cricket Ass...
A GoFundMe page has been established to provide financial assistance to the family, with Yates recently informed he would be made redundant due to the imminent closure of the Australian Community Media print site in Wendouree.
In late July, the 38-year-old father of two was preparing to go to bed before being struck down by the "worst headache of my life".
It wasn't long before Yates' wife Courtney rushed him to the Ballarat Base Hospital and then doctors made the decision to transport him to Melbourne.
Nathan Yates considers himself lucky to be alive and back home with his family.
"Things weren't looking good when I was leaving the Base. They pretty much told the missus to say her goodbyes and I won't make it to Melbourne... so from that (I'm) pretty lucky to be going now," Yates said.
"Thinking everything is going alright and (then) life throws a couple of curve balls at you like this, but we are still here to talk about it and move forward which is the best part."
Yates said he wasn't able to identify any reason behind why he suffered the aneurysm and major bleed on his brain.
"It really just came out of nowhere and probably the scariest part was there was no warning signs leading up to it," he said.
"You have got to take the glass half full (approach)... I'm lucky to be here and still seeing my kids and stuff like that."
Yates, who is also part of the Alfredton Baseball Club, said he is feeling well and making good progress in his return to full fitness.
"Each day I'm improving at the moment which is really good. Once they first put the shunt in my head they tried to get me up and walking and moving around, but to be honest with you it was like I'd been at the pub for three days... one step forward and about three back," he said.
"I thought then that I've got a bit of a road in front of me, but each day walking and everything else has got better. I'm nearly 100 per cent on my feet now with no stumbles or anything like that, which is really good."
A COVID-19 outbreak at the hospital he was at in Melbourne means Yates must self isolate at home for another week or so.
Those who wish to donate to the Yates family can do so by visiting the "Nathan Yates Recovery" page at gofundme.com.
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
