Sharks prop Andrew Fifita has been placed in an induced coma after suffering a severe injury to the throat during the weekend’s game against the Newcastle Knights.
Fifita got brought back onto the field from the dressing room only minutes after the game to be treated by on-field paramedics. And while admitted to hospital in a stable condition afterwards, the prop was soon following admission placed in an induced coma so as to ease breathing through a badly swollen larynx.
While hospital staff are hopeful of waking Fifita soon, he is expected to require urgent and unavoidable correcting surgery that will in all likelihood end his season as well as put his entire rest of career in jeopardy.
While it isn’t entirely clear how the injury occurred, a statement released by the Sharks late on Sunday night confirmed that the star player had suffered an injury to the throat during the second half of the match against Newcastle.
Fifita was taken to hospital via ambulance and shortly after arrival admitted to intensive care. A laryngeal injury was confirmed immediately after. Fifita’s symptoms included difficulty swallowing and a hoarse voice.
While the Sharks led the game for the biggest part of Sunday afternoon’s stunt against Newcastle, they ultimately emerged short on power to stop opposition full-back Kalyn Ponga from gaining full momentum during the final 15 minutes. Sunday’s win means the Knights are now ranking at No. 7 on the official points ladder.
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