Troubled footy star turned media personality checks into a mental health facility days after he was spotted ‘white as a ghost’ on a plane with blood coming from his nose
- Ex-Melbourne Storm star Brett Finch is in a mental health facility for his anxiety
- On Sunday Finch appeared ‘scared’ on a flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast
- Passengers said he had a runny, bloody nose and struggled with his breathing
- He has previously opened up about mental health struggles following retirement
Former NRL star Brett Finch has checked himself into a mental health facility just days after he appeared ‘scared’ on a flight with blood coming from his nose.
The ex-Melbourne Storm player was spotted asleep with a bloodied and runny nose on a flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast on Sunday.
A fellow passenger said the 38-year-old didn’t appear to want to get off the plane and looked ‘white as a ghost’.
‘[He] couldn’t control his runny nose and (appeared) paranoid. He wasn’t abusive. He just didn’t want to get off the plane, like he was scared about something,’ they told the Daily Telegraph.
Brett Finch (left) has checked himself into a mental health facility, following a long battle with anxiety. Pictured with former teammate Cooper Cronk
![Passengers on a recent flight said Finch appeared 'scared about something' and saw blood coming out of his nose while he struggled with his breathing. Pictured with wife Elli](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/24/13/20131436-7609293-image-a-49_1571921486744.jpg)
Passengers on a recent flight said Finch appeared ‘scared about something’ and saw blood coming out of his nose while he struggled with his breathing. Pictured with wife Elli
The passenger claimed that the plane’s captain was forced to come out, before fire crews and an ambulance were called to get him off the plane.
Another source said watching Finch struggle to breathe was ‘pretty confronting’ and ‘sad’.
But the father-of-one is now reportedly on the mend, after being checked into a mental health facility.
Rugby League fans first became concerned over Finch’s well being last month when he appeared agitated on the Matty Johns podcast.
The former State of Origin star reportedly told his inner circle that he was going through a hard time with anxiety.
![The 38-year-old father opened up about his mental health struggles on The Matty Johns Podcast, saying he hit 'rock bottom' after his 2013 retirement from NRL](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/24/14/20131938-7609293-image-m-72_1571922016146.jpg)
The 38-year-old father opened up about his mental health struggles on The Matty Johns Podcast, saying he hit ‘rock bottom’ after his 2013 retirement from NRL
![In 2018 Finch married his girlfriend of five years Elli Johnston and the couple welcomed a baby girl earlier this year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/24/13/20131440-7609293-image-a-48_1571921480458.jpg)
In 2018 Finch married his girlfriend of five years Elli Johnston and the couple welcomed a baby girl earlier this year
Finch has long been candid about his struggles with mental illness, and previously opened up about hitting ‘rock bottom’ following his 2013 retirement from football.
He said he kept to himself for six months while he struggled with his mental demons and finding himself after the end of his playing career.
‘It took a few years, it took three trips to rehab facilities,’ Finch told The Matty Johns Podcast last month.
‘I learned a lot about myself and the things that I’m dealing with. I had to realise I’m not going to get the highs I had in footy and for so long I was chasing that.’
Throughout his career, Finch played for the Sydney Roosters, Canberra Raiders, Parramatta Eels and finished his time on the field with the Melbourne Storm.
He then started working as a commentator on Channel Nine’s NRL Coverage.
He regularly appeared as a panellist on The NRL Footy Show, but departed the network at the end of 2016, citing mental health issues.
The following year he began working for Fox Sports.
In 2018 he married his girlfriend of five years Elli Johnston and the couple welcomed a baby girl earlier this year.
![Finch played for the Sydney Roosters, Canberra Raiders, Parramatta Eels and finished his career with the Melbourne Storm in 2013](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/24/13/20131434-7609293-image-a-46_1571921382257.jpg)
Finch played for the Sydney Roosters, Canberra Raiders, Parramatta Eels and finished his career with the Melbourne Storm in 2013