He has been in hospital ever since, the majority of which time was spent in intensive care following brain surgery.

Orford was recovering from orthopedic surgery at the Mater Hospital when he developed the clot.

Speaking from his hospital bed Orford said:

"I am very lucky to have survived such a clot,” Orford said in a statement released on the Manly Sea Eagles website.

“I want to thank the specialists at Royal North Shore for their life-saving treatment as well as the staff at The Mater for responding so swiftly.

“I’m now well on the road to a full recovery and I have the terrific expertise of the multidisciplinary clinicians at the two hospitals to thank for this as well as the extraordinary support of my family, friends and the Football community.”