Derryn Hinch recovering after liver transplant

Broadcaster and former TV current affairs host Derryn Hinch is recovering after a life-saving liver transplant today at Melbourne’s Austin Hospital.

In November Hinch revealed that he may only have 12 months to live without a liver transplant.

He got the call that a donor organ had become available about 7pm while he was at a Melbourne venue to farewell a 3AW Breakfast Producer. Despite receiving the call, Hinch did not tell anyone in the venue the news.

He was in surgery by midnight. The operation finished just after 7.30am.

Professor Bob Jones said, ‘‘It’s a very difficult operation to remove his old liver, which is very damaged and scarred, partly from the treatment that he had.

‘‘These are operations in which patients can die, so it is possible that Derryn could not have survived it,’’ he said.

Professor Jones said the broadcaster was still unconscious but would likely wake up from the anaesthetic later today, and would probably want to talk.

Hinch, who hosted his own TV current affairs show on both Seven and TEN, would be in intensive care for about two more days and in hospital for three weeks.

But he is not in the clear yet, with the risk of his body rejecting the new organ or infection setting in.

Meanwhile Hinch is also awaiting sentencing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court after being found guilty of four counts of breaching a suppression order.

Updated: A 60 Minutes crew has been documenting his journey in hospital, and was there for the surgery.

3:14pm: Hinch has already woken up and tweeted: “In intensive care at the Austin. Feeling fantastic. Massive gratitude to the donor family. Thanks to the nurses. Will tweet again when can (sic).”

Source: The Age, 3AW