Footy great Rex Hunt is hit with devastating diagnosis after suffering a series of horror health setbacks

AFL icon and popular Australian broadcaster Rex Hunt has been diagnosed with dementia.

It comes after the 74-year-old suffered a number of health problems in recent years, including confirmation that he suffered from bipolar depression back in 2017.

Hunt’s wife Lynn confirmed her husband’s condition on Wednesday.

“We do this as a family and give him love and support,” she said. News Corp.

“He is fit, in good spirits and looking forward to going fishing again soon.

AFL icon and popular Australian broadcaster Rex Hunt has been diagnosed with dementia.

It comes after Hunt, 74, has suffered a number of health problems in recent years, including confirmation that he suffered from bipolar depression back in 2017.

“Thousands of families across Australia have a loved one living with dementia, and we are no different to any of them.”

The two-time VFL premiership winner with Richmond went to a Melbourne clinic in September to receive treatment for his mental health.

It followed Hunt opening up about his personal struggles on a podcast with fellow footballer Sam Newman, where he confirmed his mental health had deteriorated since he became addicted to opioids seven years ago while taking strong painkillers following surgery for debilitating neck injury.

“Life will never be the same,” Hunt said.

“Mental illness is an unpleasant word for some, but until it happened to you, I had no idea the ups and downs your mind goes through when you suffer from what I suffer from.”

“It’s a chemical imbalance in the brain and I was diagnosed with bipolar depression, high highs and high lows.

“I’m in a really difficult position right now because it’s hard to try to get everyone together when you’re trying to get everyone together.”

Hunt’s wife Lynn confirmed her husband’s condition on Wednesday (he is pictured left with Richmond superstar Dustin Martin after the Tigers won the 2017 AFL Grand Final).

In July 2022, Hunt was captured on dashcam grabbing a garden fork and chasing a man, shouting: “Do you want to die?”

A series of social media rants over the past few years have also raised questions about Hunt’s fragile mental state.

During a 10-year VFL career, Hunt played 202 games for Richmond, St Kilda and Geelong before becoming a football broadcaster in the 1990s.

He later became an Australian fishing icon, hosting his own TV show for 14 seasons from 1991 to 2004, where he became famous for kissing his catch and then throwing it back.