NRL great Chad Townsend collapses during flight in sudden health episode

NRL great Chad Townsend has collapsed in a sudden health scare during a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles.

The premiership-winning halfback started feeling sick and required medical attention from passengers aboard the plane, one of which was Brooke Gidley, the wife of Newcastle champion Kurt Gidley, who is a nurse.

Townsend later insisted he was fine, but admitted he has a black spot in his memory of the episode.

“I was sitting down and I started to get hot and cold shivers,” he said.

“I was sweating really bad so I got up to go to the toilet. I then woke up and I was on the floor with an oxygen mask on.”

Townsend said alcohol was not a factor in his collapse.

The 35-year-old, who played 146 of his 268 NRL games for Cronulla across two separate stints, regained consciousness before making it to Los Angeles, where he was eventually cleared by paramedics to continue on to Las Vegas.

Townsend arrived in Vegas on Wednesday morning for his radio commitments ahead of the NRL’s season-opening blockbuster.

“I was attended to by an amazing Dr by the name of Jimmy, a Michigan native and nurse Brooke Gidley (Kurt’s wife). I am so grateful for the care and support they showed me,” he added.

“The whole ordeal was a little scary but | just wanted to let everyone know that I am feeling fine now and looking forward to Round 1 here in Vegas!”

Townsend retired at the end of last year, bringing an end to a career that spanned 15 years and included four clubs across six different stints.

He had two stints each at the Sharks and Warriors, winning a premiership at Cronulla in 2016, before playing 70 games for the Cowboys between 2022-2024 and finishing his career at the Roosters last year.