RICKSEN IN FIGHT FOR LIFE
Former Rangers star Fernando left gasping for breath by hospital blunder
RANGERS legend Fernando Ricksen nearly died after being left on his back at a Scottish hospital while unable to communicate, it was claimed yesterday.
The star, 42 – who has motor neurone disease – “had to fight for his life” and was resuscitated after the blunder, his ghostwriter said.
Vincent de Vries, who penned his memoirs, said that a nurse found Ricksen by chance and saved him after he was laid flat on his back.
De Vries told a Dutch newspaper: “Fernando is not allowed to lie flat, his lungs are being emptied three times a day. They had to resuscitate him.”
He told the Record last night that a nurse made a mistake while thinking he was another patient.
He said: “Fernando is very happy with his nurses, who are really nice to him and really doing a really good job.
“One nurse thought Fernando was ‘Peter’.
“When it was time to sleep, she took his speakcomputer, which is his only communication, lay him down and turned off the light and told him to have a wonderful night.
“As Fernando is not able to speak and cannot move, he could not explain it was all wrong.
“So he was in panic, and because he could not breathe, he felt he was dying. After two hours of struggling, at 2am, another nurse found him laying flat and helped immediately.
“He had never been so afraid and really thought he was dying.”
De Vries said it took place at a hospital outside the Glasgow area but would not confirm which one.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde told us it did not happen at any of their hospitals.
De Vries said he and Ricksen were in Scotland for a fan meet and greet at Rangers when he collapsed.
Earlier this month, it was reported that his wife Veronika was urged to fly from Spain to say her goodbyes.
Pneumonia was feared but exhaustion was eventually blamed.
In September, Ricksen revealed that he now used a computer to speak to his family after MND ravaged his voice.