FORMER Premier League star Sergio Rico has revealed how only his professional fitness saved him after cheating death in a horse-riding accident.
The Spanish keeper spent the 2018-19 season on loan to Fulham from hometown club Sevilla.
One-cap international Rico joined Paris Saint-Germain later that year and is under contract with the French champions until June.
But the 30-year-old spent 26 days in a coma after suffering neck injuries in Spain last May.
He was in hospital for 12 weeks, lost over three stone in weight, and has yet to return to PSG’s team.
Rico previously made 32 Fulham appearances, but could not prevent the West Londoners’ relegation in 2019.
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He said: “The truth is that I owe everything to football. It is my entire life.
“A doctor told me that my arteries were more resistant than those of a normal person who didn’t play as much sport as me.
“I feel very lucky to be alive, because it was a very serious accident and my life was at stake.
“When I awoke from my coma I asked the doctor if I would be able to play football once again.
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“He was very surprised, and started saying how I had suffered a serious accident.
“But he said yes, I could, and I was so relieved I almost jumped out of my hospital bed.
“Life is very important. Nobody wants to die, but had I been forced to retire from football, I ask myself would it have been worthwhile?
“While in hospital I had a dream in which I saw my father on the other side of a street to myself.
“I called him but he didn’t hear me and walked on. It was very emotional, and a clear signal to me that my time was not up. I was in tears.
“I have since regained my weight. The doctors warned there might be a risk to my balance, but it is perfect.
“It’s a virtual miracle I am as well as I am.
“I must not exceed 130 heartbeats a minute. But I will do anything I can do that doesn’t exceed this limit.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
