Derryn Hinch has defiantly insisted he has no plans to quit drinking alcohol, despite undergoing a liver transplant and recently suffering a “brain trauma” after a nasty fall from an Uber.
The senator and radio host, 74, fell on St Kilda Road in Melbourne on Monday, where he was knocked unconscious and later taken to The Alfred Hospital for tests. Now, he has opened up about the accident and said while he had two glasses of wine on the night, he wasn’t “pissed” when he fell – revealing it was actually down to a dodgy knee.
He vowed he will continue to “live his life” and enjoy a drink – despite his life-saving transplant.
“Thank goodness the Uber driver and a passer-by called an ambulance, which was here in four minutes,” he told reporters on The Morning Show in Melbourne. “I was unconscious, knocked out, and had a big lump on the back of my head.
“I’d had two glasses of wine with my dinner guest that night at their house and I came home and it all happened outside my house. I drink occasionally and I’m not stupid.”
He first revealed he was drinking again in 2016, after going dry for five years following his transplant, but he insists he’s careful with it.
“I’m very appreciative to the family of my donor,” he added. “But you have to live your life, I didn’t have a drink for five years and swore I would never drink again, but you have got to live your life.”
As his fans asked after him on Twitter, Hinch hit back at criticism over him drinking again, saying: “Yes I do sometimes, with my surgeon’s permission. I didn’t die and so I shall live.”
He added: “I fell and was knocked unconscious.I anticipated the expected boozy scepticism. I must wear my p***pot past. Thanks to the staff at the Alfred for my tests and future tests. I’m feeling fine.”
Hinch had a liver transplant in 2011 after suffering advanced cirrhosis of the liver, and vowed not to drink again at the time. However, he has since insisted his surgeon has given him permission to drink in moderation – ensuring alcohol is watered down.
He’s due to return to hospital this week to have a heart monitor fitted, to ensure cardiac issues didn’t play a part in his fall, several publications report.