OFF THE WIRE
High-profile bikie Troy Mercanti has amazed doctors with his recovery from kidney failure and no longer needs dialysis to keep him alive.
The 44-year-old is in custody facing three counts of aggravated assault of his partner Tammy Kingdon and one of doing an act intended to cause her harm after she gave police a statement in January in which she alleged Mr Mercanti had attacked her at least three times in the past five years.
Her disappearance into police protection is thought to have sparked a bizarre rampage by Mr Mercanti, who was arrested in Duncraig while trying to smash his way into the home of a terrified middle-aged couple.
He was taken to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital where his kidneys failed due to years of drug, alcohol and steroid abuse. Since his arrest, Mr Mercanti has been taken from Casuarina Prison to hospital for dialysis treatment.
But _The Weekend West _understands doctors recently noticed a fall in his creatinine levels, a key indicator of kidney health, over the past few weeks. They were astounded to discover his kidneys had started working again and were effectively filtering his blood.
It is believed Mr Mercanti is expected to be able to survive without dialysis or a kidney transplant and has been moved to Hakea Prison where he remains on remand.
During a court appearance in January, Mr Mercanti sat in a wheelchair with a catheter in his chest.
His lawyer Laurie Levy said Mr Mercanti required dialysis three times a week to survive.
Police had been hopeful Mr Mercanti's poor health would prevent him from carrying on as a member of the Finks bikie gxxg and prevent bloodshed between the gxxg and the Coffin Cheaters, which expelled Mr Mercanti in 2008 "on bad standing".
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/13130867/mercanti-off-dialysis-machine/
