Footballer dies after 39 years in coma

Former France defender, Jean-Pierre Adams, has breathed his last—at 73.

He had been in a coma since 1982.

Adams, who played for Nice and Paris Saint-Germain, lapsed after a routine knee operation that went wrong: there was a problem with the supply of anaesthetic; a cushion supporting him slipped without hospital staff noticing.

Consequently, he suffocated and suffered a cardiac arrest.

According to his wife, Bernadette, the anesthetist failed to spot the signs that he was lacking oxygen “because of his skin colour”.

After a year in hospital, he was taken home to be cared for by his wife.

He was able to open his eyes and digest food, but was unable to move or talk.