AFL
  1. Home
  2. Sport
  3. AFL
  4. News
EXCLUSIVE

Collingwood Magpie Daniel Wells helps save a woman from drowning in Middle East

Daniel Cherny

On Wednesday night, Daniel Wells is set to play half of Collingwood's intra-club practice match at Olympic Park Oval. It will be just under five months since his 243rd and final appearance for North Melbourne.

In an eventful period since, he's signed a three-year contract with the Magpies as an unrestricted free agent, been the subject of persistent scrutiny about his fitness - most notably a calf complaint in December - and, perhaps most remarkably, helped save an unconscious woman from falling into the Jordan River.

Up Next

Home invasion leaves Essendon players shaken

null
Video duration
01:40

More AFL Real Footy Videos

null
Video duration
01:40

Home invasion leaves Essendon players ...
Tiana Ernst
Video duration
02:33

Living two lives
null
Video duration
03:51

James Hird's father speaks out
null
Video duration
01:32

Essendon offers support following Hird ...
More videos

AFLW Plays of Round One

The most stunning plays from round one of the AFLW.

Wells, who turned 32 last week, is a devout Catholic, and was in the Middle East during the off-season. As part of the trip he visited the Jordan River, a site of significance in Christianity as the place Jesus Christ was baptised.

Wells and his tour group had attended mass and were taking photos on the river bank when one of the women in the group lost her footing, falling backwards and hitting her head. Unconscious, she started to slide towards the water. A friend of Wells - John - grabbed the woman and Wells jumped in to help.

Related Content

The woman recovered and was able to continue the tour with the group.

Wells on Tuesday spoke about the incident, although he played down his involvement. "I was lucky enough to be in the right position to help her not slide into the water," he said.

Advertisement

"John was probably the main guy and I just followed his lead and we helped her not slide in the water while she was unconscious.

"She was pretty brave, a pretty tough lady, because she got herself up afterwards and soldiered on."

Back in Australia, Wells has had a strong few weeks of training, putting him in contention for Wednesday night's trial, when he will play the second and third quarters. He said he was progressing well and would likely play one or two matches in the JLT Community Series, which begins on Thursday week with a Collingwood-Essendon clash at Etihad Stadium.

"I was a little bit backwards in terms of where I was coming from. I probably tried to do too much too early, and that's probably what happened with the calf," he told Collingwood's website.

 

Even on the sea of Galilee... #cantbelieveimhere #pieseverywhere

A photo posted by DANIEL WELLS (@daniel_wells3) on "I've felt a lot more part of the team now that I'm training with them," Wells told the Collingwood website.

"I was trying to impress and earn the respect of the boys and the club.

I was lucky enough to be in the right position to help her not slide into the water.

"I'm still probably a couple of weeks in intensity behind [the rest of the guys]."

The Magpies said their football department was happy with Wells' progress.

 

Not a bad view 😏😎

A photo posted by DANIEL WELLS (@daniel_wells3) on

 
Despite Wells' recurring injury woes during his time at Arden Street, the Magpies took a punt on the silky midfielder, who they hope will improve the club's ball use heading into attack.

It's believed small forward Jamie Elliott is also set to play on Wednesday night. Elliott didn't play a game last year because of a back injury.

0 comments