- Trent Robinson and his wife Sandra required treatment
- Suffered burns after a barbecue gas bottle exploded
- Former NRL player and administrator explains what happened
The rugby league legend Trent Robinson was visiting at the time of his shocking barbecue accident has opened up about what happened before the Sydney Roosters coach and his wife were taken to hospital with horror burns.
The NRL coach and his wife Sandra were airlifted to hospital after a gas bottle exploded while they were cooking at the property of ex-rugby league supremo John Quayle in Dalswinton in the NSW Hunter Valley when the incident occurred.
Both suffered burns to their arms and were treated with cold water before being taken to hospital in a helicopter for urgent medical care.
Quayle is a former Australian rugby league player and administrator who played as a forward for the Eastern Suburbs Roosters in the 1970s and later served as the general manager of the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL).
He played a key role in establishing the National Rugby League (NRL) and managing its operations and was inducted into the code’s Hall of Fame this year.
Over those years, the champion player and administrator has established many strong connections, including the Roosters coach.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson (pictured at a Sydney Swifts netball match) and his wife Sandra suffered burns when a gas bottle exploded at a farm co-owned by John Quayle
Former NSWRL chief executive John Quayle (left) is pictured arriving at court with ARL Chairman Ken Arthurson during the Super League war
Now Quayle, who also worked for SOCOG as an events manager during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games has opened up on how the incident happened.
‘We were just having a barbecue and about an hour after we’d eaten, a gas smell was there,’ Quayle told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘Trent checked the knob, the knob ignited and it went off. They are both OK.
‘Naturally, triple-0 was called and they were very good. We’re in a pretty secluded area, the ambulances came straight away.
‘They were treated straight away with cold water and cold showers while the ambulance attendants treated them.
‘To make sure everything was correct, a helicopter [was summoned].
‘They were taken to John Hunter [hospital] for a precautionary examination. Sandra was kept overnight, Trent was kept for two nights. They are both home now, they are OK and that’s the most important thing.’
The Roosters coach (pictured left) and his wife had to be airlifted to hospital for treatment on their injuries
Quayle revealed a gas smell first tipped Robinson off to the fact something was wrong with the barbecue at his Hunter Valley property
Quayle has held strong ties to the Roosters ever since his playing days.
Just after the Super League war of 1997, Sydney Roosters Godfather Nick Politis and Quayle bought into the Hunter Valley farm and set up a vineyard together.
Politis and Quayle have been friends since the 1970s and the former NRL administrator struck up a friendship with Robinson when the former Catalans Dragons coach joined the club in 2010 as an assistant coach and again in 2013 as head coach.
Quayle said it was a regular occurrence for Robinson and his family to head up to the farm in the off-season to unwind.
‘Every now and then they come up with their children,’ Quayle said.
‘It was very innocent, [Trent] relaxing after a long year in the country.
‘The services were so good, from the ambulance to rescue to the hospital. To see that reaction at a rural property was really first class. We are certainly happy about that.’
The accident also occurred on the same day the Roosters were celebrating their NRLW premiership, which Robinson didn’t want to disrupt.
‘Trent, naturally being Trent, didn’t want any fuss or anything said about it, which is understandable,’ Quayle said.
‘He didn’t want anyone concerned, which is why he probably said nothing to date.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .