Former State of Origin player fighting for his life in intensive care after rare disease diagnosis
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Rugby league fans across Australia are sending their best wishes to Sam Backo, the legendary Queensland State of Origin front rower, as he battles a life-threatening infection in the intensive care unit at Cairns Hospital.
At 64, Backo is no stranger to tough scrums, but this time, he’s facing an opponent that’s invisible, insidious, and potentially deadly: melioidosis.
Former Rugby League front-rower Sam Backo remains in a critical condition after contracting melioidosis, a dangerous tropical disease, in Cairns.
The 64-year-old watched Wednesday night’s State of Origin match from the intensive care unit (ICU) at Cairns Hospital.
Backo, who played for Queensland seven times between 1988 and 1990, has been in hospital since April, when he was diagnosed with the illness.
This infection follows a serious heart attack he survived two years ago, which required quadruple bypass surgery.
‘I’m very grateful for my wife, who’s been beside me through this journey … all my family that have been praying for me,’ Backo shared. ‘That’s all they can really do.’
Spike in cases
Queensland has seen a significant rise in melioidosis cases this year, with 236 cases and 34 deaths—mostly in Cairns and Townsville—recorded between January 1 and July 6. Cairns alone reported 123 cases, four times higher than the five-year average for the same period.
The disease is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a bacterium found in soil and water in tropical regions. It often surfaces after flooding or excavation.
Infection occurs primarily through contact with contaminated soil or water, especially via open wounds, though it can also be inhaled through dust or water droplets. Symptoms usually appear within 1 to 21 days, but the bacteria can remain dormant in the body for years.
Backo suspects he caught the infection while swimming at Freshwater Creek in Goomboora Park, Brinsmead. He had a minor sore on his upper buttock at the time.
‘If anybody knows Goomboora, they’ll know it’s changed a little bit since the flooding,’ he said. ‘When I was sitting in the water I felt this little sting on that scratch — that’s where I got the entry from.’
When reality hit
At first, Backo ignored the symptoms. ‘My wife kept saying to me, “Darl, I think you should go to the doctor,”’ he recalled.
‘Then my daughters said I looked a bit grey in colour. ‘Us as males, we think we’re on top of the hill, but we’re not.’
After four days of worsening health, he finally went to the hospital. His wife dropped him at the entrance while she parked the car.
‘I’m leaning on a bollard and an old gentleman and his wife come walking up past me,’ Backo recounted. ‘He’s looked at me and he said, “Mate, are you alright?” ‘I knew then that something was wrong.’
Hospital complications
Melioidosis can cause a range of issues, from skin infections to pneumonia, and in severe cases, can enter the bloodstream, triggering fever, organ failure, or septic shock.
Backo’s recovery has been made harder by his previous heart attack, which required him to be placed in an induced coma for 12 days. He is currently waiting to be transferred to Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane to upgrade his implantable cardioverter defibrillator to a pacemaker.
He said he was past the worst of the melioidosis, but doctors have discussed end-of-life planning due to his other health problems.
‘I previously said to them, you know, “When your time’s up, your time’s up” — but I’ve had a rethink,’ he said. ‘I have 16 beautiful grandchildren. I want to see them grow up into strong people.’
Prevention advice
Dr Jacqui Murdoch, director of tropical health services at Cairns Hospital and Hinterland Health Service, said melioidosis is uncommon in healthy adults and rarely affects children.
However, people with conditions like diabetes or compromised immune systems are at greater risk.
Dr Murdoch advised at-risk individuals to take precautions. ‘Try not to work outside if it’s raining, control your diabetes and try to reduce your alcohol intake,’ she advised.
‘When you go outside, wear protective footwear and gloves, wash your skin thoroughly after exposure to soil or muddy water, and wear a mask if you’re using a hose or high-pressure cleaner around soil.
‘If you are immunosuppressed and you develop a chest infection or fever, it’s important to seek medical assistance.’
State of Origin spirit
Backo woke up feeling more upbeat on Thursday morning after watching Queensland’s dominant State of Origin win. However, he was reminded to keep the noise down.
‘One of the nurses came around and roused on me,’ he said. ‘I tried to keep quiet for the rest of the game.’
He praised the Cairns Hospital medical staff, calling them his ‘angels’.
‘They’re the ones that have been saving me the whole way through,’ Backo said. ‘If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.’
You can find a GoFundMe for Sam Backo here.
Have you or someone you know ever had a close call with a tropical disease or unexpected infection? Do you take extra precautions when out in the garden or swimming in creeks? Share your stories and tips in the comments below—your experience could help keep someone else safe! And let’s all send our best wishes to Sam Backo for a full and speedy recovery.
At 64, Backo is no stranger to tough scrums, but this time, he’s facing an opponent that’s invisible, insidious, and potentially deadly: melioidosis.
Former Rugby League front-rower Sam Backo remains in a critical condition after contracting melioidosis, a dangerous tropical disease, in Cairns.
The 64-year-old watched Wednesday night’s State of Origin match from the intensive care unit (ICU) at Cairns Hospital.
Backo, who played for Queensland seven times between 1988 and 1990, has been in hospital since April, when he was diagnosed with the illness.
This infection follows a serious heart attack he survived two years ago, which required quadruple bypass surgery.
‘I’m very grateful for my wife, who’s been beside me through this journey … all my family that have been praying for me,’ Backo shared. ‘That’s all they can really do.’
Former Queensland State of Origin Rugby League player Sam Backo is in intensive care in Cairns Hospital after contracting the potentially deadly tropical disease melioidosis in April. Image source: ABC News / Facebook.
Spike in cases
Queensland has seen a significant rise in melioidosis cases this year, with 236 cases and 34 deaths—mostly in Cairns and Townsville—recorded between January 1 and July 6. Cairns alone reported 123 cases, four times higher than the five-year average for the same period.
The disease is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a bacterium found in soil and water in tropical regions. It often surfaces after flooding or excavation.
Infection occurs primarily through contact with contaminated soil or water, especially via open wounds, though it can also be inhaled through dust or water droplets. Symptoms usually appear within 1 to 21 days, but the bacteria can remain dormant in the body for years.
Backo suspects he caught the infection while swimming at Freshwater Creek in Goomboora Park, Brinsmead. He had a minor sore on his upper buttock at the time.
‘If anybody knows Goomboora, they’ll know it’s changed a little bit since the flooding,’ he said. ‘When I was sitting in the water I felt this little sting on that scratch — that’s where I got the entry from.’
When reality hit
At first, Backo ignored the symptoms. ‘My wife kept saying to me, “Darl, I think you should go to the doctor,”’ he recalled.
‘Then my daughters said I looked a bit grey in colour. ‘Us as males, we think we’re on top of the hill, but we’re not.’
After four days of worsening health, he finally went to the hospital. His wife dropped him at the entrance while she parked the car.
Cases of melioidosis have surged in Queensland this year, with most cases and deaths reported in the Cairns and Townsville regions, prompting health authorities to warn residents to take precautions around soil and water. @cainrnshinterlandhhs / Instagram.
‘I’m leaning on a bollard and an old gentleman and his wife come walking up past me,’ Backo recounted. ‘He’s looked at me and he said, “Mate, are you alright?” ‘I knew then that something was wrong.’
Hospital complications
Melioidosis can cause a range of issues, from skin infections to pneumonia, and in severe cases, can enter the bloodstream, triggering fever, organ failure, or septic shock.
Backo’s recovery has been made harder by his previous heart attack, which required him to be placed in an induced coma for 12 days. He is currently waiting to be transferred to Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane to upgrade his implantable cardioverter defibrillator to a pacemaker.
He said he was past the worst of the melioidosis, but doctors have discussed end-of-life planning due to his other health problems.
‘I previously said to them, you know, “When your time’s up, your time’s up” — but I’ve had a rethink,’ he said. ‘I have 16 beautiful grandchildren. I want to see them grow up into strong people.’
Prevention advice
Dr Jacqui Murdoch, director of tropical health services at Cairns Hospital and Hinterland Health Service, said melioidosis is uncommon in healthy adults and rarely affects children.
However, people with conditions like diabetes or compromised immune systems are at greater risk.
Dr Murdoch advised at-risk individuals to take precautions. ‘Try not to work outside if it’s raining, control your diabetes and try to reduce your alcohol intake,’ she advised.
‘When you go outside, wear protective footwear and gloves, wash your skin thoroughly after exposure to soil or muddy water, and wear a mask if you’re using a hose or high-pressure cleaner around soil.
‘If you are immunosuppressed and you develop a chest infection or fever, it’s important to seek medical assistance.’
State of Origin spirit
Backo woke up feeling more upbeat on Thursday morning after watching Queensland’s dominant State of Origin win. However, he was reminded to keep the noise down.
‘One of the nurses came around and roused on me,’ he said. ‘I tried to keep quiet for the rest of the game.’
He praised the Cairns Hospital medical staff, calling them his ‘angels’.
‘They’re the ones that have been saving me the whole way through,’ Backo said. ‘If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.’
You can find a GoFundMe for Sam Backo here.
Have you or someone you know ever had a close call with a tropical disease or unexpected infection? Do you take extra precautions when out in the garden or swimming in creeks? Share your stories and tips in the comments below—your experience could help keep someone else safe! And let’s all send our best wishes to Sam Backo for a full and speedy recovery.
