Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has regained consciousness following a medically induced coma, which was part of a critical two-stage surgical procedure to treat a severe abdominal injury.
Awoniyi underwent the first stage of the surgery on Monday. On Tuesday, doctors placed him in an induced coma to closely monitor his condition and support the healing process. The second stage of surgery—closing the abdominal wound—was successfully completed on Wednesday.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon Professor Gillian Tierney described the injury as “extremely serious and potentially life-threatening.”
“This type of internal trauma is easily missed at the point of impact and can take several hours to detect,” she said. “In a hospital setting, we’d conduct a CT scan, which could take up to 10 hours to provide a definitive diagnosis.”
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Professor Tierney added that symptoms might not be immediately obvious in a highly fit athlete operating on adrenaline. “Fluid leaking from the intestine isn’t easy to identify straight away. Surgery is almost always necessary, involving opening up the abdomen. The mortality rate is around 9%, but a fit, strong individual stands a good chance of recovery.”
Consultant Vascular and General Surgeon Harpaul Flora, of the London Clinic, confirmed the rarity and severity of the condition.
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“This type of injury usually results from either compression of the abdominal wall causing tears or rupture of an artery,” Flora explained. “Neither would be easy to diagnose without scanning. If left untreated, it could cause internal infections and ultimately lead to sepsis, which is life-threatening.”
Awoniyi is now in recovery and under close medical supervision. Nottingham Forest have not confirmed a timeline for his return to football.
