Australia batting great Matthew Hayden admitted on Monday that he survived a major scare after sustaining spinal and head injuries during a surfing holiday in Queensland.

The former Australia opener was on a holiday with his family when he suffered the surfing accident on Friday after being taken in by a spill.

Hayden was subsequently rushed to the hospital for scans where it was revealed that he had fractured the C6 vertebrae in his spine while also tearing a few muscles in his neck. The 46-year-old also suffered a bloodied head following his ordeal.

“Last attention seeking post, I promise,”Hayden wrote on Instagram on Sunday night.

“Just wanted to say a big thank you to all our mates on Straddie who have been so supportive.

“Safe to say I truly have dodged a bullet. On the road to recovery.”

This is not the first time that the former Australia batsman has been involved in a water-based accident.

In 1999, Hayden and his Australia team-mate Andrew Symonds had to swim more than a kilometre back to shore after their fishing boat sank in the Moreton Bay.

The left-hander is considered to be one of the finest Test openers in the history of the game. In 103 Tests for Australia, Hayden registered 8,625 runs at an average greater than 50 with the help of 30 tons and 29 half-centuries.

The Aussie great hung up his boots in 2009 with his final Test appearance coming against South Africa in Sydney.