A hospital dash may have saved Sean’s life
CARDIFF captain Sean Morrison came within 45 minutes of losing his life after a frantic hospital dash on Monday night.
The big defender was only saved by the quick thinking of his wife Stacey and the club’s doctor Len Nokes, after he initially refused to seek medical attention for a pain in his stomach.
Thankfully, Stacey insisted on calling the medic herself and when Morrison explained how the pain had shifted from the middle of his stomach to the lower right-hand side, Dr Nokes immediately diagnosed the potential for acute appendicitis.
He ordered Stacey to take Morrison, 28, to A&E without delay.
There, the player was rushed straight into surgery where it was discovered Morrison’s appendix had already burst – which is a life-threatening problem as toxins are released into other parts of the body.
Doctors opened him up to remove his appendix and clean out the damage and after a couple of days of intensive antibiotics being administered he was finally given the all-clear and released home.
However, staff at the hospital warned that if Morrison had arrived just 45 minutes later, they may not have been able to save him.
It will now be at least six weeks before Morrison can resume training as Cardiff battle to avoid the drop.
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock deliberately kept the news under wraps because he did not want it to overshadow preparations for yesterday’s relegation six-pointer at Newcastle.
On Tuesday, a club spokesman revealed that Morrison had been in hospital to “undergo a procedure” but refused to elaborate.
Appendicitis affects one in 13 people in the UK at some point during their life.
Removing the appendix is usually a straightforward keyhole procedure.
But if the appendix bursts it releases bacteria into the abdomen.
According to the NHS: “If this is not treated immediately it can cause long-term problems and may even be fatal.”
Before yesterday’s trip to Tyneside, Morrison had played in all 22 of Cardiff’s Premier League games.
But even if he recovers in time to play again in March, Morrison will miss at least six games with Cardiff’s squad already depleted by injury.
HOME BANKER Fabian Schar vaulted Newcastle out of the relegation zone by cashing in his first two Toon goals.
The Swiss, who worked as a trainee financier for five years while building his football career, raised the interest rate at St James’ Park.
The defender, 27, is currently doing a degree in business administration with a German university and he helped Newcastle pass their most crucial examination of the season.
It was Newcastle’s biggest win for eight months and the goal flurry was only the eighth, ninth and 10th goals the long-suffering United fans have seen at home this season. Schar, a £3m signing from Deportivo La Coruna, said: “It is a fantastic feeling. It was a massive game for both teams. “There was a lot of pressure and we needed to be ready for 90 minutes. Today we were. We deserved to win.” Manager Rafa Benitez said: “The team played with confidence, energy and intensity.”
But Cardiff were desperately poor and managed just one shot on target.
United played a back three, which turned out to be far from negative.
Schar, who likes to step up into midfield, opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a special goal. Geordie youngster Sean Longstaff gave him the ball 40 yards out and he skipped forward looking for a pass. The City defence backed off, Ayoze Perez made a run to distract the defenders and Schar curled home.
He scored again in the 63rd minute from close range.
Benitez said: “He has quality on the ball. He is good passing and going forward.
“He has a lot of confidence in himself. He knows his ability.”
Mike Ashley was back in the directors’ box for the first time since the last win here in November. There was an extra edge to the home crowd’s noisy chants against him.
The Toon owner is set to call off his sale of the club after ex-Manchester United chief exec Peter Kenyon failed to find the £300m needed for a buy-out.
That might be good news for the Toon boss, with Ashley now considering spending in the transfer window.
Benitez added: “I cannot control the money but I can talk, and I can say yes or no.”
Perez added United’s third in added time.
City boss Neil Warnock said: “It is not easy. We have only been in front for 94 minutes all season. There are six or seven teams involved down there.
“It will go up and down. We will always be favourites. Nobody will expect us to bounce back again but we have shown we can all season.”