Footy star fighting for his life in a coma after a horrific motorbike crash – less than 48 hours after he was booted out of a trotting track when a SHOE was thrown at horses during a race
- Rhys Palmer, 30, played for Fremantle, Greater Western Sydney and Carlton
- He is fighting for life in a coma after a horrific motorbike accident in Perth
- The crash occurred just 48 hours after he was involved in a racetrack incident
- On Friday at Gloucester Park, he allegedly threw two shoes at horses mid-race
- Miraculously no horses in the trotting race were impacted by shocking incident
An ex-footballer is fighting for his life in a coma after a horrific motorbike accident in Perth, just 48 hours after he was accused of throwing two shoes at horses during a trots race.
Former AFL player Rhys Palmer, 30, was riding in Palmyra in Perth’s south about 7pm on Saturday when he stopped at an intersection.
A female passenger was on the back of the motorcycle when the pair were hit by a Mitsubishi Lancer before Palmer was rushed in critical condition to Royal Perth Hospital.
Former AFL star forward Rhys Palmer (pictured with Chloe Livsey in 2017) is in an induced coma after a horrific motorbike incident
A shoe-less Rhys Palmer (pictured) was detained by security guards after allegedly hurling his shoes onto a race track during a meeting on Friday in Perth
Football operations manager Phil Smart visited the 30-year-old in hospital on Sunday and told Perth Now he was put into an induced coma.
Palmer had to have his spleen removed and lost a lot of blood, but surgeons managed to stop the bleeding.
‘It’s more positive than it was last night, but he still has a fair way to go,’ Mr Smart said.
The 25-year-old female passenger’s hand was injured in the incident and was also taken to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment.
It comes just two days after the 30-year-old footballer was involved in controversy after he allegedly threw his footwear onto the racetrack during a trots race.
He allegedly threw the shoes as runners went past the winning post with one lap remaining in race six at Perth’s Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Rhys Palmer (pictured in collared flower shirt) talks to track staff after throwing his shoes at pacers mid-race on Friday
The accident comes two days after the 30-year-old footballer was involved in controversy after he allegedly threw his footwear onto the racetrack during a trots race
Miraculously, no horses were impacted by the bizarre shoe-throwing, with the pacing event won by Patrickthepiranha.
Winning driver Dylan Egerton-Green was stunned by the potentially dangerous incident.
‘It was a shock to see the first shoe coming,’ Egerton-Green told the West Australian.
‘The second one went between the legs of my drive. ‘It was miraculous that no horses faltered, most of them are inexperienced pacers.’
Rhys Palmer (pictured) is facing a lifetime ban from racetracks after throwing two shoes at pacers mid-race on Friday in Perth
Acting chief steward Rhys Chappell was equally bemused by Palmer’s reckless behaviour, stating ‘we have never seen anything like this.’
It is believed Palmer was immediately detained by irate track security staff before police were called.
The 2008 AFL Rising Star winner, now working in real estate, represented Fremantle, Greater Western Sydney and Carlton during a 123-game AFL career spanning from 2008-2017.
Rhys Palmer (pictured right) was on the books of Fremantle, GWS and Carlton in an AFL career from 2008-2017