Petr Cech: Concussion scare brought back memories of horror injury

Posted Tuesday, September 27, 2011 by The Sun

PETR CECH feared he had suffered another serious skull injury after collapsing in the Chelsea dressing room last week.

Cech, 29, was rushed to hospital for a brain scan following a collision with Fulham striker Orlando Sa during the Carling Cup clash at Stamford Bridge.

And though the Czech international goalkeeper was quickly cleared by neurologists, the incident brought back terrible memories of the day he nearly died on the pitch five years ago.

Cech has worn a protective scrum cap ever since he was forced to undergo emergency surgery for a depressed skull fracture in the wake of being caught on the head by Reading's Stephen Hunt in October 2006.

And he believes the helmet was a major factor in helping him emerge unscathed from last Wednesday's blow from Sa.

Cech revealed: "My head was shaken by the impact of the blow and went back in a similar way to when you take a right hook in boxing.

"I think the helmet took most of the impact and I felt fine after I'd been treated by the physio.

"I was even able to play for the last two minutes of the first half.

"But as soon as I got to the dressing room at half-time, I knew something was wrong.

"As soon as I sat down, I couldn't get up again. I couldn't see properly and I didn't have any awareness of the space around me.

"I had a concussion and it was clear my head wasn't working in the way it should.

"There was no way I could continue and it would have been really stupid for me to carry on. I went straight to hospital and had a scan. With my medical record they were not taking any chances, though that is the normal procedure for any player who has concussion just to make sure nothing is happening inside the skull.

"Luckily, everything was OK. I had a headache the next morning but was able to return to training on Friday and play against Swansea on Saturday.

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