Mike Baird’s announcement of his fractured vertebrae has been met with a resounding lack of sympathy on social media.
The New South Wales premier posted an image of his x-ray on Facebook and Twitter early on Tuesday morning.
“Note to self: when fetching a glass of water late at night, don’t walk down the stairs in your socks with the lights out,” he wrote.
“Prognosis: slowish recovery but no need for surgery.”
“Yeah, I know,” added Baird, showing some awareness of what was to come. “The punchlines for this pretty much write themselves… Knock yourselves out (I almost did!)”
Social media was quick to deliver, with several users making the same joke about Baird legislating to save others from themselves – a reference to the lockout laws he imposed on Sydney.
“From now on socks are illegal after 1am, stairs are also illegal... We should shut down the stair industry without asking anyone,” Ricky Kemp posted on Facebook.
Mike Baird fell walking up the stairs in socks, so we can safely assume NSW will ban stairs and socks by the end of the month.
— John Johnsonson (@JohnJohnsonson) August 22, 2016
Mike Baird to ban stair use after 11pm.
— Reid Parker (@ReidParker_) August 22, 2016
Mike Baird credit certainly works fast pic.twitter.com/y6DZtCVUrj
— Reid Parker (@ReidParker_) August 22, 2016
The Shovel published a satirical piece alleging that Baird had banned socks in Sydney from 10pm.
“Exceptions would be made for Sydney’s casinos, where patrons would be able to wear just socks at any time.”
Others noted the irony of Baird needing the care of paramedics when, the Health Services Union says, government underfunding means ambulance staffing in the state is inadequate to meet population demand or growth.
NSW paramedics also recently had their death and disability payouts revoked.
Charlie Morrison, a paramedic, referred to this in a long comment he posted in response to Baird’s status.
“I’m truly sorry for your accident Mr Baird. It must be very painful and a little bit scary at the time.
“Please understand when I’m at work, I sometimes have to carry people down stairs like this that can weigh anywhere from 50kgs to over 100kgs. If I slip and do this injury to myself I would be out of work as a Paramedic. My wife and 2 children would find it very hard to survive under your new D and D policy you have inflicted on us.
“Please reconsider what you are doing. Get well soon.”
Ron Davidson, another paramedic, said he was assured that his colleagues would have taken “excellent clinical care” of the premier.
He added: “I hope though that your disability payments are better than the ones we have been forced to accept should we be permanently incapacitated or die in the process of doing our duty.”
One Twitter user likened Baird’s injury to a memorable scene in The West Wing – with some key differences.
Mike Baird falling down the stairs is his Jed Bartlett riding his bike into a tree only minus social policies, charisma, CJ Cregg…
— Stephanie H Convery (@gingerandhoney) August 22, 2016
Several made digs along the lines of Matthew Busby Andrews’ comment to Facebook: “Proof, at least, that the Premier isn’t spineless.”
Wow - absolutely stunned to find out Mike Baird has a spine
— civil tweeter (@dannolan) August 22, 2016
More than 1,000 comments had been made on Baird’s Facebook post within eight hours of it having been published.
Some – admittedly the minority – wished the premier a speedy recovery.
A spokesman for the premier’s office said that Baird would continue to work during his recovery.
