AFL player and TikTok chef Christian Petracca has returned to the kitchen after undergoing surgery for his shocking injuries.
The 28-year-old Demons star is recovering at home after surgery to repair four broken ribs, a punctured lung and a lacerated spleen, sustained in a tagging contest during the King’s Birthday loss to Collingwood.
A few days after being discharged from the ICU, Petracca shared his eating habits on TikTok as he recovers from his injury.
She revealed that she is eating foods that reduce inflammation and support overall immune health, including porridge and soup.
And medalist Norm Smith relies on his fiancée Bella Beischer to help him in the kitchen.
“I’m not really allowed to do much right now, so Bella has been helping me with some of the heavy lifting,” she revealed.
“Sometimes I have enough energy to cook and other days I just have to relax and take it easy.”
The 28-year-old revealed that his friends and family had also been sending him food to help him through the difficult period.
Melbourne midfielder and TikTok chef Christian Petracca has returned to the kitchen after undergoing surgery for shocking injuries.
In June, Petracca gave an emotional television interview in which he nearly broke down in tears as he spoke about the toll his injury has taken on his loved ones and revealed a new detail about his health battle.
“The first few weeks were pretty traumatic, to be honest,” he told Fox Sports’ AFL 360.
‘I was in the ICU, in a ward and then in and out of the hospital.
‘About a week ago, early in the morning, I was rushed to the hospital for some checks. I woke up with some discomfort and went straight to the hospital.
The 28-year-old is recovering at home after surgery to repair four broken ribs, a punctured lung and a lacerated spleen, sustained in a tagging contest during the King’s Birthday loss to Collingwood.
Taking to TikTok, just days after being discharged from the ICU, the soccer star shared his eating habits as he recovers from his injury.
‘It’s been quite stressful, it’s something I’ve never experienced before.
“The first year I had surgery on my anterior cruciate ligament in my knee and I was a bit young, naive and reckless and I didn’t understand the seriousness of the injury. Now, at 28, it’s very different.”
Petracca then struggled to hold back tears as she revealed the impact on Beischer and her family after having to isolate themselves for the first 10 days she spent at home to protect against infection.
“I’m getting really emotional thinking about it… probably more so how it’s affected my fiancée. To be honest, that’s probably been the hardest thing,” he said.
Medalist Norm Smith relies on his fiancée Bella Beischer to help him in the kitchen.
‘It’s been a challenge for both of us, but we’re getting through it.
‘The support I’ve received from everyone has been extraordinary: my fiancée, my parents, my family, her parents, my friends, everyone in football… it’s been incredible.
“But for me it is still very painful.”
Petracca proposed to Beischer on Lake Como, Italy, in October 2022.
“I’m not really allowed to do much right now, so Bella has been helping me with some of the heavy lifting,” she revealed.