AFL legend Tony Modra remains in a critical but stable condition following a serious truck crash near Victor Harbor, South Australia, on Thursday evening. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Range Road, approximately 10 kilometers from Victor Harbor, where Modra was driving a cattle truck.

Linda Cameron, a 78-year-old local resident and great-grandmother, was returning from a dog walk when she noticed the cattle truck approaching from behind. Due to recent close encounters with kangaroos and previous accidents, Cameron was driving cautiously below the 100 km/h speed limit, particularly given the fading daylight conditions. She pulled over to allow the truck and several others to pass safely.

Shortly afterward, Cameron came upon the scene of the accident. A large branch with sharp prongs had blown onto the center of the road during wild weather, obstructing the path. The truck driven by Modra had collided with it, coming to rest partly on the opposite side of the road. Cameron saw Modra emerging from the vehicle, visibly shaken and injured, with a severe head wound.

Cameron quickly went to assist, applying pressure to his head injury with tissues and providing warmth with blankets from her car. She continuously comforted Modra, urging him to hold on as she awaited emergency responders. “I held his hand tight... I just kept saying to him ‘hold my hand tight’ and I kept rubbing his back saying ‘the ambulance is coming, it will be here any minute. Just hold on,’” Cameron recalled.

Modra, renowned for his high-flying marks as a full-forward for the Adelaide Crows in the 1990s, was transported by air ambulance to Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide. Medical staff reported encouraging signs the following day.

Cameron noted the presence of an agitated woman at the scene, initially assuming it was Modra’s wife. It later emerged that his wife, Erica, had been speaking with him on speakerphone during the accident. Cameron’s grandson, Angus, 18, also came upon the crash shortly after and heard the woman’s distressed voice on the phone, but found the truck abandoned with significant damage and blood inside.

Former Adelaide Crows captain Mark Ricciuto conveyed a message from Erica Modra on his radio show, expressing gratitude to the first responders, identified as Sarah and Anthony, who helped save Modra and maintained communication throughout the emergency. “She said he’s going all right, it’s pretty amazing that he’s got through it,” Ricciuto said.

Cameran dismissed suggestions of heroism, saying she simply did what anyone else would have done under the circumstances. Emergency services were alerted promptly, and the community continues to send well wishes to the former football star as he recovers.