Former West Coast Eagles star Ben Cousins has been discharged from hospital on Monday afternoon - reportedly after being found directing traffic on Canning Highway in Como on Sunday, while in a dazed state.
As it emerged ex-Richmond teammate Jake King regularly checked up on him, Cousins was back in the spotlight on Sunday evening after police were required to intervene on a busy Perth road.
He was released from Royal Perth Hospital on Monday afternoon, nearly 24 hours after the incident occurred.
The incident came in the week in which the Eagles will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their 2006 premiership. There had been speculation in recent weeks that Cousins would attend the event but it's understood he had not yet accepted an invitation.
"We understand Ben Cousins was standing in the middle of Canning Highway directing traffic," Seven News Perth reporter Blake Johnson said on Sunday night.
"The guys who wash windows here where you get off the freeway said he was hanging around with them for about three hours but he appeared to be incoherent."
Witnesses reported that Cousins at one stage tried to hop on the back of a stranger's motorbike and multiple police vehicles, plus the WA Police helicopter, attended the scene.
"He was really lost, confused and making no sense at all," a witness told Seven News.
The West Australian reported Cousins was arrested in bush near the Kwinana Freeway around 5pm and that he had joined the window washers after being kicked out of a car on an overpass.
WA Police could not comment on the identity of the individual involved in the incident but did confirm that police had attended an incident on Canning Highway.
"Police were called regarding an incident in which a man was seen walking on Canning Highway, in Como," a police spokesperson said.
"The caller was concerned for the man's safety as there was traffic present on the road at the time. Police attended and located the man.
"The 37-year-old man was detained at the scene and taken to Royal Perth Hospital by St John Ambulance."
Speaking outside Royal Perth Hospital, Seven News Perth's Amelia Broun said family had yet to see Cousins, who will escape any police charge for the incident.
"We haven't seen any members of Ben's family as yet, but it's obviously just a tragically sad situation," she said.
"We have to remember at the end of the day he's obviously struggling. We are hearing that police won't be laying any charges and it's just simply one of those incidents and everyone is just thankful no one was hurt."
Speaking to Channel Seven News Cousins' former West Coast coach John Worsfold wished a speedy recovery for the fallen star.
"I've said it several times, I'm really concerned for Ben and his family and I wish him all the best in what is a tough recovery," the now Essendon coach said.
Cousins has fought a long-standing battle with drug addiction, at one stage being banned from the game for a year during his time with the Eagles and then being involved in a series of incidents after retiring from the game as a Richmond player.
The 2005 Brownlow medallist was spared jail last year for a bizarre episode in which he trespassed at a Sikh temple in Canning Vale.
In the subsequent court case, Cousins' lawyer noted his client had been mentally ill at the time of incident, had been taken to hospital rather than being placed in custody and had taken up a fencing job in Collie.
When former Eagles teammate Chris Judd launched his autobiography Inside in October he said he'd had recent contact with Cousins and that he was "doing well".
But West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett recently admitted on The Footy Show that he would give the club's 2006 premiership back in exchange for the good mental health of Cousins, along with other troubled ex-Eagles players.
Retired Richmond small forward Jake King told Fox Footy's Open Mike program - in an episode due to be aired on Tuesday night - that he stilled check in regularly on Cousins.
"I speak to him every few weeks, I saw him a couple of weeks ago," King said.
"I flew to Perth to make sure he is going alright. I guess he is still doing it a little bit tough."
Cousins' on-field career had just about every imaginable honour, including six All-Australian jumpers. But there was just as much drama off it, as he was first sacked as West Coast captain for avoiding a booze bus and then eventually chopped by the club entirely in 2007 following stints in rehab.
He finished his career with two seasons at Richmond in 2009 and 2010 and played 270 AFL games in total.
