"I Nearly Died" - Long Drive Cliffy.

Long Drive Cliffy, is still shaking his head in disbelief as he recalls how close he was to death on his way to the 1998 Mongrel Masters.

" I was feeling a little unwell the day before. But thought this was due to the anxiety of having to drink that terrible warm Tooheys Gold at the Masters" recounts Cliffy in our exclusive bedside interview.

"I mentioned to Harold P Ouvrier that I was a bit dodgy when he kicked me in the guts to wake me up the morning of the Masters. He told me ‘not to be stupid, Stupid.’

"Anyway I got dressed and went to the fridge and ripped the top off a coldie. It was then that I realised I was really ill, because I didn’t want to drink it and I was going to waste a beer!"

Despite the seriousness of his illness the three time Bradman Award winner, knew he was on the verge of greatness. A fourth successive Bradman was within his reach. Who knows the illness might have improved his golf?

However, this question was not able to be answered.

Whilst traveling with his "mates"(??), Champion Willey and Harold P Ouvrier, Cliffy buckled over in the back seat of the car . Writhing in agony with the pain that ripped through his intestines, Cliffy asked if he could be dropped back home. There was no chance of that, as his mates would be late for their tee time.

Soon Cliffy was convulsing, such was the excruciating agony that had beset his body.

Harold initially thought Cliffy was dancing to the Talking Heads song on the radio when he saw Cliffy’s peculiar body movements. It was not until Cliffy leaned out of the window and started to vomit down the side of the car that Champion took any notice of Cliffy. Forever the master of understatement Champion enquired whether Cliffy felt alright?

As luck would have it Mona Vale Hospital was within sight and Cliffy asked Champion to drop him there.

Having reached the traffic lights to turn off to the Hospital, Champion brought the car to a grinding halt and opened the back door for Cliffy and pointed him in the direction of the Hospital, a mere two kilometres away. Champion got back in the car and took off for Palm Beach Golf Course, ensuring that he made his tee time.

Meanwhile Cliffy attempted to stagger across Pittwater Rd and was nearly run over by The King Bonser, who swerved to miss him. Noticing it was Cliffy that he avoided a collision with and not some drunk, The King for a moment thought it was strange that he was staggering across the road, but he too had to make his tee time!

Cliffy eventually made it across the road and to the safe haven of the gutter. Meanwhile player after player drove passed Cliffy waving and honking, but not one assisted him, they had to make their tee times also.

Eventually, having lapsed into a coma in the gutter a good Samaritan came to Cliffy’s aid and got him to the hospital. He was immediately admitted to the intensive care ward, where he remained in a critical condition for two weeks, as they tried to ascertain what caused the abdominal pain.

"I really appreciated all that Champion and Harold did for me. If it wasn’t for them I could have died." said Cliffy.

"It was good of Champion to ring me during my time in hospital...and I was especially thankful that he organised a cab to pick me up to take me home when I was released.

"You know Harold didn’t even let my room out to someone else. I wish I knew how to thank him?"

I think this article is thanks enough Cliffy!

Click here for 1998 Results

Click here for the 1998 Mongrel Masters in Photographs

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