A leading medic has warned that former Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury could have been life-threatening after the Nottingham Forest star was placed into an induced coma.
The 27-year-old, who played for Liverpool earlier in his career, is currently on the mend in hospital following a frightening incident where he collided with a goalpost during Forest’s 2-2 Premier League draw against Leicester, resulting in a ruptured intestine and necessitating immediate medical action.
Despite initially signalling his intention to continue playing post-collision, Awoniyi was swiftly removed from the field for urgent care. Post-surgery for his severe abdominal injuries, the club has confirmed that his recovery is progressing well.
Dr. Gareth Nye, a lecturer at the University of Salford, highlighted the gravity of Awoniyi’s condition. Speaking to the Daily Star, he said: “In essence, you have undigested food, stomach acid, enzymes designed to break down tissue and bacteria from inside your intestines, suddenly having free reign around your abdominal pelvic region, which has huge consequences to the patient. Because of this, risk of death can be as high as 50 percent.”
Dr. Nye delved into the intricacies of the operation. “Patients typically have emergency surgery to remove damaged tissue, repair the hole and clean the region,” he outlined. “They will then be placed on what’s called bowel rest, which means nil by mouth essentially and given strong antibiotics to lower infection risk.
“In some cases patients may have a colostomy or ileostomy which allows the contents of your intestines to empty into a bag, through a stoma, a hole created in your abdomen. This may be temporary allowing healing to occur uninterrupted which would then require a second surgery to reattach the intestines. In other cases, the surgery is permanent.
(Image: Getty Images)
“He had surgery on Monday night and remains in hospital, with the rest of the procedure set to be completed on Wednesday which suggests he has had a multistage surgery to protect the intestines described above.”
Forest released an emotional statement recognising the gravity of the injury as “a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game, and why a player’s health and well-being must always come first.”
The club also robustly dismissed any criticism aimed at owner Evangelos Marinakis for his pitchside presence and apparent altercation with manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Initially perceived as frustration over the match outcome, it was later clarified that Marinakis was actually seeking clarity on Awoniyi’s condition due to confusion.
A statement from Forest read: “At Nottingham Forest, this principle is not just policy for us; it is the deeply held belief and conviction of our owner. To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn’t just a football club – it’s family – and he instils that message in all of us.
“That is why he was so personally and emotionally invested in the situation that unfolded at the City Ground on Sunday. His reaction was one of deep care, responsibility, and emotional investment in one of our own. He didn’t just see it as an isolated incident, but as something that reflected the values and unity of the entire team.
“In moments like that he demonstrates his leadership, not just through words, but through action and presence. In the final 10 minutes of the game, when he saw our player clearly in discomfort, struggling through visible pain, it became increasingly difficult for him to stay on the sidelines.
“His deep frustration at seeing our player lying on the ground in severe pain – something no one with genuine care could ignore – triggered him to go onto the pitch. It was instinctive, human, and a reflection of just how much this team and its people mean to him. He would do the same again if such an unfortunate event were ever to reoccur.
“The truth of the matter is there was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium. There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.
“In light of this, we urge former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgement and fake news online, especially when they do not have the full facts and context. Baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal social media traction serves no one – least of all the injured player.
“We call on these influential voices to show the same respect for player welfare that they often demand from others. Let concern come before commentary.
“At Nottingham Forest, we believe the mental and physical well-being of our players and coaching staff must always take precedence – over media narratives, inflammatory judgements, and certainly over self-promotion. In moments like these, the game must unite around those who put their bodies and minds on the line every week. That’s what real leadership looks like in our game.”
