FootballHopeful news from the Erasmus Hospital in Rotterdam. Dutch footballer Donny van Iperen, who was in a coma for a long time due to a collision with a goalkeeper at the beginning of August, has been able to talk again for two weeks. Joey van Iperen, the brother of, calls it a small miracle.
A greenhouse plant. Joey van Iperen took this into account for a long time, after his brother Donny ended up in a coma six weeks ago in Moldova during a duel with his club FC Zimbru after an unfortunate collision with the goalkeeper of Dinamo-Auto. “But it didn’t look good either,” says 36-year-old Joey van Iperen. “The first two days we really feared for his life.” Moreover, the repatriation to the Netherlands was difficult. Because he was registered as a citizen of Moldova, you did not have Dutch health insurance.
As bad as the situation was, the footballer’s family kept hope. That bright spot is now there. “Yes, because since two weeks Donny can talk again”, says. “It is true that it only concerns a few words and certainly not long sentences. In fact, it’s still quite incoherent. But the beginning is here. He said ‘yes’ to a nurse’s question. That is of course great news.”
It should lead to further healing. But to what extent the 27-year-old football player from Sint Pancras is recovering, Joey van Iperen does not dare to make any statements at the moment. “Of course we hope that Donny is back on the field one day. But you also have to be real. That would be a miracle. It would therefore be nice if Donny didn’t like it, could lead a life like everyone else.”
Van Iperen made his professional debut with Telstar, after he played in the youth for AZ and Cambuur. He then played for Go Ahead Eagles and for AE Karaiskakis at the second level in Greece.
Take a look at the images of the collision below
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