Dan Andrews shares first photo from hospital after leaving ICU and ‘settling into to new digs’

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has shared a photo of himself ‘settling into his new digs’ after being transferred out of intensive care following a serious fall last week. 

Mr Andrews fractured a vertebrae when he slipped on wet stairs at a Mornington Peninsula holiday rental while getting ready for work on Tuesday. 

The first picture released of Mr Andrews from hospital, posted to his social media on Saturday night, shows the 48-year-old fitted with a back brace. 

‘Good to get out of ICU and settled in new digs. Thanks for all your messages and well wishes. It really means a lot,’ he captioned the picture. 

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews released the first picture of himself since being admitted to hospital (pictured) after fracturing his spine slipping on wet stairs 

MR Andrews (pictured with his wife) will need months of rehabilitation from the painful injury 

Mr Andrews fractured the T7 vertebrae in the middle of his spine and broke several ribs in the fall.

The Alfred Hospital confirmed his move from the intensive care unit into a ward on Saturday.

The director of the intensive care unit, Associate Professor Steve McGloughlin, said there are no plans to operate on the premier’s injuries.

He said the father-of-two was in good spirits and remains in a stable condition.

‘Mr Andrews is comfortable and doing well,’ Prof McGloughlin said.

The premier thanked the team at the hospital for looking after him.

‘Like all our health professionals, they are the best of Victoria,’ he said.

The premier said the ‘good news’ is that he won’t need surgery to repair his T7 vertebrae ‘for now’

The Victorian Premier thanked supporters 

‘The good news is no surgery for now – but the doctors tell me recovery and rehab is still going to be a very long journey.’  

He has been cleared of any internal or head injuries but could be off work for up to three months. 

The were concerns voiced Mr Andrews’ injuries could affect his return as Victorian premier. 

Neil Mitchell, a leading Melbourne radio presenter, said he understands it will be a long road ahead for the Premier.

‘This is serious stuff. Despite the bravado – and I can understand that from the ministers – nobody can be sure he’ll return as premier,’ he said on 3AW.

‘I am sure he wants to, I’m sure he intends to and he probably will, but at this stage, nobody really knows. 

‘I know I disagree with him on a lot of things, a lot of us do, but in the end, we wish him well.’

Acting Premier James Merlino on Thursday said Mr Andrews would eventually return to lead the state.

‘I spoke personally with Dan this morning… his focus is getting better and the care that he needs,’ he said.

Mr Andrews also suffered fractures to his left and right ribs, with concern growing over his spine following subsequent CAT scans.

Daniel Andrews (pictured with wife Catherine) may never return as Victorian premier after a fall while he was getting ready for work at a holiday home, according to radio presenter Neil Mitchell

The Victorian premier tweeted on Saturday (pictured) to give the update on his condition

The vertebrae injury is considered very serious and surgery would likely involve adding reinforcing screws and pins.

Orthopaedic spine surgeon John Cunningham said the kind of fracture the Premier suffered would be painful.

‘It can cause immobility and I would expect the pain to last if not three, maybe six months,’ Dr Cunningham told Nine News.

‘These fractures can be really common and often caused by minor trauma, but the pain from them can persist for quite some time.

‘Fortunately they don’t all end up in paraplegia.’ 

A government source said there still remains a ’50-50 chance’ Mr Andrews will require surgery on his spine. 

However the head of the intensive care unit where Mr Andrews is recovering said there were no immediate plans for him to go under the knife. 

Mr Merlino (pictured) revealed Victorians will have a much clearer picture of Mr Andrews’s recovery in the coming days and assured residents they will get regular updates on the premier’s condition

Daniel Andrews fractured his T7 vertebrae (pictured), which is in the middle of his spine after slipping on wet stairs at a Mornington Peninsula holiday rental 

Mr Merlino, who has been deputy premier since 2014, sought to reassure Victorians he would be able to fill Mr Andrews’ shoes for a longer period if required.

‘We made a commitment back in 2014 when we first came into government to not waste a day,’ he said.

‘Government will continue. I’ll be the acting premier, leading cabinet.’

Mr Andrews was initially treated at Peninsula Private Hospital but transferred to Alfred Trauma Centre in Melbourne after specialists assessed an MRI scan.

Associate Professor Steve McGloughlin, the head of the intensive care unit at The Alfred hospital said the premier was ‘comfortable and his pain is well-controlled’.

The head of the intensive care unit at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne has confirmed his injuries are serious but said he is in a stable condition and there are no immediate plans for surgery

A statement from Mr Andrews on Tuesday revealed a series of horrific injuries uncovered by a CT scan (pictured)

‘A multidisciplinary team including intensive care, trauma and orthopaedic specialists has developed a treatment plan, together with the Andrews family,’ Prof McGloughlin said late on Wednesday.

‘Mr Andrews has sustained some serious injuries and his condition is being monitored closely. At this stage there is no immediate plan for surgery.’

He has been cleared of any internal or head injuries.

‘Heartfelt thanks to the entire team at @AlfredHealth for taking such good care of me. We’re so very grateful,’ Mr Andrews tweeted on Wednesday.