Soccer-RKC goalkeeper Vaessen recovering after being knocked out in Ajax clash

AFC Ajax NV

01/10/2023 14:23

Oct 1 (Reuters) - Goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen, who was
knocked out in a Dutch league game against Ajax Amsterdam on
Saturday, is continuing his recovery after spending a "good
night" in hospital, his team RKC Waalwijk said on Sunday.
    Vaessen went down after a collision with Ajax forward Brian
Brobbey, causing panicked reactions from his team mates as they
frantically called for medical help.
    Screens were put up around the goalkeeper to shield him from
the public eye and players from both sides watched with tears in
their eyes as a defibrillator was rushed on to the field.
    Vaessen lay motionless on the field for minutes before he
was carried away on a stretcher.
    After the match had been suspended, with Ajax leading 3-2,
RKC director Frank van Mosselveld told broadcaster NOS that
Vaessen had regained consciousness. RKC later confirmed that
Vaessen had been taken to hospital.
    "Following our update last night, we can report that our
goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen had a good night and has continued
his line of recovery," RKC said in a statement on Sunday. 
    "For now, it is important for Etienne to recover peacefully
in the coming hours and days. We would therefore ask that he and
his family be given the time and rest to do so."

 (Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Clare Fallon)
 ((Aadi.Nair@thomsonreuters.com;))