A Paarl Boys’ High pupil is reportedly being brought out of sedation after emergency brain surgery following a “freak” head injury during a schools rugby match in Pretoria.
Chris Jordaan was believed to be in a stable condition following a four-and-a-half-hour procedure to stem bleeding to the brain, reported Sport24.
He was rushed to hospital in midweek, his father Chris senior was quoted, after the 17-year-old went down under a “normal tackle” but suffered whiplash when his head hit the ground with force during a Paarl Boys’ win against Affies.
WATCH: Paarl’s Mars steps out of this world
Boishaai first-team coach Sean Erasmus told IOL that on Thursday, the teenager had reacted to family and started squeezing their hands and moving his hand.
“His dad let me know that he started to show signs. He moved his own hand and squeezed someone’s hand,” Erasmus said.
“Tomorrow [Friday] will be the big day for him. It’s when they will bring him out of sedation.
“It will be the first time he is awake since the game, and we are looking forward to it. It’s going to be a Good Friday, literally and figuratively.”
It’s do or die for the Stormers, with Exeter Chiefs standing in the way of a semi-final berth. Watch @mark_keohane and Zels make their Champions Cup picks. pic.twitter.com/RwZfPf3Mo5
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) April 6, 2023
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images