Derick Hougaard update: It’s 50-50, say doctors

*Note: This is an updated article on former Springbok flyhalf Derick Hougaard

On Friday, shock news came to light that Hougaard had spent the past week unconscious in intensive care. According to a Netwerk24 report, a source close to the situation said that Hougaard is suffering from severe inflammation of his lungs, having felt nauseous after going to sleep last Friday, 9 June before slipping into a coma.

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Sunday newspaper Rapport further reports that it took an hour and a half to stabilise him, while he is being monitored around the clock in ICU. Only close family are apparently allowed to visit Hougaard and doctors are giving him a 50% chance of waking up from his coma.

“He has not been awake since then and is on a ventilator because his lungs are not working properly,” the source said. “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.”

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Singer, Nadine, who was said to be in a relationship with Hougaard, confirmed to Jacaranda FM News that Hougaard was admitted to hospital on Saturday 10 June.

“Yes, Derick has been in hospital since last Saturday, he is in the ICU ward with respiratory pneumonia. He has wonderful doctors and nurses working on him. We appreciate everybody’s support and prayers including positive messages on social media. At this point we can only pray and hope for the best,” said Nadine.

The 40-year-old made more than 100 appearances for the Bulls between 2002 and 2008 and is known as the “Liefling of Loftus” after performing a crucial role in a golden era for the Pretoria franchise.

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DERICK HOUGAARD WAS A COLOURFUL CHARACTER ON AND OFF THE FIELD

He played eight Tests for the Springboks, making his debut against Uruguay in Perth during the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Hougaard played his final Test against the All Blacks in Christchurch in July 2007.

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He scored 69 points for the Springboks thanks to two tries, 13 conversions, 10 penalties and one drop goal and was on the winning side in four of his Tests.

Since hanging up his boots, Hougaard has tried his hand at a career in the NFL and took part in a celebrity boxing match against South African musician Francois van Coke.

He has also reportedly been working on a documentary on his life.

The South African website extends its thoughts and wishes to Hougaard.

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