Cape Town – Former Springbok flyhalf Derick Hougaard’s condition remains critical as he fights for his life in a hospital in Pretoria.
Reports over the weekend revealed that Hougaard had been in a coma for the past week, with inflammation in his lungs believed to be the cause.
According to Netwerk24, the 40-year-old is currently “gravely ill” due to a serious lung infection.
IOL reported that Hougaard is in the intensive care unit of a Pretoria hospital after being found unconscious by his girlfriend, singer Nadine, more than a week ago.
The news comes as a blow to fans who affectionately know him as the ‘Liefling of Loftus’.
Former Springbok flyhalf Derick Hougaard fighting for his life in Pretoria hospital.
The singer Nadine has thanked everyone for their prayers after Hougaard “went to sleep” on June 9 and hasn’t woken since.
Please pray for this man. ? #derickhougaard #SouthAfrica#springbok pic.twitter.com/1O8R5e15gy
— My Turn – South Africa (@AliceVLAuthor) June 18, 2023
Hougaard had an impressive career, playing over 100 games for the Bulls between 2002 and 2008, and later representing Leicester Tigers and Saracens in England. He also earned eight Test caps for the Springboks and was part of the 2003 World Cup squad that reached the quarter-finals, News24 reported.
According to Rapport, Hougaard has been given a 50% chance of waking from his coma.
“He has not been awake since then and is on a ventilator because his lungs are not working properly.
“He is in the intensive care unit where only one person can visit him at a time, so it is a very difficult situation.
“It is obviously traumatic for everyone who goes to visit him to see him with so many pipes in his body and to know that he is fighting for his life,” the report quoted a source as saying.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
