Super-fit footy player, 27, reveals how trip to Bali left him with rare BONE-EATING disease that almost killed him

• Nash Holmes could have died after returning from Bali
• Former VFL star spent a month recovering in hospital

By ANDREW PRENTICE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 08:12 BST, 7 May 2025 | Updated: 08:12 BST, 7 May 2025

Melbourne footy player Nash Holmes has revealed a trip to Bali left him with a bone- eating disease which ate away a section of his hip and almost killed him.

The 27-year-old, who plays for Montmorency Football Club in Victoria’s Northern Football League and is a former VFL star, was initially floored after a salmonella infection was triggered by a bout of gastro when he arrived home.

It led to piriformis pyomyositis – a rare musculoskeletal complication – and almost a month in hospital where Holmes required specialist care.

Holmes’ life then turned upside down when the infection gradually ate into his hip bone and hit his sciatic nerve.

‘The bug was in my gut and that’s when it’s attacked and worked its way through the blood into the hip and sat there for six or seven weeks. It started eating away at my bone, part of my hip is missing,’ Holmes told News Corp.

‘It (pain) really started after one gym session….the next morning at 1am, my mate ordered an ambulance.

Melbourne footy player Nash Holmes has revealed a trip to Bali left him with a bone eating disease that ate away at his hip and almost killed him (pictured, in hospital)

The 27-year-old, who is a former VFL star, was initially floored after a salmonella infection was triggered by a bout of gastro once back in Australia

Holmes’ life then turned upside down when the infection ate into his hip bone and hit his sciatic nerve (pictured, playing for Port Melbourne in the VFL)

‘Then the doctors couldn’t (at first) work out what was wrong with me. I almost ended up in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit).

‘Some 90 plus days later I’m still on pain medication to help, it has been a long process.’

A commercial plumber, Holmes hasn’t worked in three months as a result – and isn’t expected to return until at least July where he will be on light duties.

He also would love to be playing footy with his Montmorency Magpies teammates – but understandably, chasing a Sherrin isn’t realistic at the moment.

Being super-fit and young was also a blessing in disguise, with doctors also informing Holmes if he was still in Bali, he would probably be dead.

The Gippsland Power junior moved to Melbourne in 2016, and in the past decade the midfielder was a VFL with the likes of North Melbourne, Essendon and Port Melbourne.

Holmes also spent time on the books of Keilor, St Albans and Deer Park before moving to Montmorency.

The Magpies take on undefeated Heidelberg this weekend in a grand final rematch – and Holmes will be in the stands, riding every play.

His main goal is getting healthy – but Holmes admitted he is a frustrated spectator.

‘I want to be out there….the worst time of the week (for me) is 2pm each Saturday,’ he said. 

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Super-fit footy player, 27, reveals how trip to Bali left him with rare BONE-EATING disease that almost killed him

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