FORMER Saints coach Daniel Anderson is in hospital after suffering a serious injury while body surfing on holiday with his family near Norah Head in New South Wales.

The Sydney Morning Herald are reporting that the injury was caused when he landed on his neck after being hit by a big wave and understand this caused the 55-year-old to suffer a cardiac arrest.

They report the hugely popular former Saints supremo was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital where he is now in a stable condition, on a ventilator and being kept under supervision.

It is news that will worry and concern the many people who had dealings with him during a three-and-a-half year spell at Saints.

Anderson joined a club in some turmoil following the shock sacking of Ian Millward in May 2005.

But he soon calmed things down and guided Saints to a top-place finish before injuries wrecked the play-off hopes.

The highlight of his tenure was the following 2006 Grand Slam winning season when he guided Saints to the Challenge Cup, League Leaders Shield and Super League title.

That year Saints were BBC Sports Personality of the Year team of the year - with the authorative but warm Australian picking up individual awards for his coaching. 

Saints finished top for four seasins under Anderson and led them to three Challenge Cup wins.

He returned to the NRL and Parramatta Eels in 2009 and led them to the Grand Final.

He has remained a friend of the club and officials have remained in contact with him in the intervening years, especially during the club's Academy tours to Australia.

 

Saints posted a message this morning: "Our thoughts and prayers are with former coach Daniel Anderson following the news that he has been involved in a surfing accident over in Australia."