Duffy´s ´second chance´ after escaping death

Everton’s teenage defender Shane Duffy believes he has been given a “second chance” after an horrific training accident nearly cost him his life.

Two months ago, the 18-year-old was left fighting for his life after rupturing an artery following a collision while training with the Republic of Ireland national team.

Doctors discovered almost two thirds of his blood supply had leaked into his abdomen, and if it wasn?t for the quick actions of the Ireland medical team on site who rushed him to hospital, it could have been a different scenario.

“I can’t thank the medics enough,” Duffy told www.evertonfc.com.

“It’s made me realise how important it is now to get a second chance at it. I can’t describe it, that I’m still here. I nearly died. So I just have to live life now, and don’t take anything for granted.”

Duffy said he was shocked when doctors helped him piece together the drama of what had happened.

“When it happened, I tried to get up straight away and the pain was just so sore, and then the doctor came on and I just said I couldn’t breathe and then he took me off,” said Duffy.

“When I was in the ambulance I was getting sharp pains in my chest so that just made it worse and I couldn’t drink anything. I just blanked out from there, then I woke up and it was all done.”

Duffy was told it would be six months before he could return to the pitch, but the 18-year-old is already back in light training.