Horror-scene in Czech Extraliga: Demel falls unconscious

Already during the 5th minute of the game between Mladá Boleslav and Vítkovice Steel away forward Petr Strapáč hit Tomáš Demel of Mladá Boleslav into the boards. It was such an unfortunate hit that Demel fell unconscious. After a fifteen-minute long resuscitation Demel finally recovered. He suffered a very tough concussion and for him the season is over. But the most important thing is that Demel’s dispotion is satisfactory and he should eschew any aftermaths. Regarding to latest news Strapáč won’t receive any disciplinary penalization.



Dr. Radek Langer, a team-doctor of Ml. Boleslav, became the hero of the day. „At first I hauled up his tongue from the throat. After that I realized he had no pulse, so I hit him once in the chest. The pulse came back and Tomáš started to breathe again immediately,“ Langer said to iSport.cz.

„But he remained unconscious for fifteen minutes. In case like that you cannot know if the patient suffered any spine injury or bleeding into the brain. Fortunately he recovered and started to move his arms and legs. He communicated but did not know where he is and what happened,“ told Langer.

During the horror-moments the captain of Mladá Boleslav David Výborný asked the referees if the game can be postponed. „We didn’t want to play, but the referee told me it is possible only in a case of pass away. I said him that we will play because this won’t happen!“ Výborný told.

Petr Strapáč was not penalized by the on-game referees. Regarding to their opinion it was a a clear shoulder-on-shoulder hit and Demel evocated the injury himself. The Czech Extraliga Disciplinary Council confirmed the referee’s statement on today's meeting. During a video-analysis of the clash the council did not find any trespassing of the rules by Strapáč.

Even Strapáč was not penalized at all; the game was over for him. He tried to play one more shift on the ice but he was unable to concentrate on the game. „I know it was a clear hit, but it was not easy for me,“ Strapáč said. „The coach told me I can go to the lockers if I want to, and I decided it will be better for me and for the whole team as well.“

After the game Strapáč immediately went to the hospital to see Demel. He apologized to him and Tomáš accepted. „I told him that things like this happens,“ said Demel in a phone-interview to iSport.cz, „I’m not angry at him at all and I don’t want him to have any aftermaths. I wished him good luck.“

The 33-year old defender also said it is strange to think about the incident for him because of his memory blackout: „It seems to me like we are talking about someone else. I cannot imagine I lied on the ice and did not breathe. It had to be pretty hard for the guys on the ice to continue with play.“

„I only remember my first shift from the game, nothing more,“ Tomáš told to iSport.cz, „when I got back to reality I asked the doctors if I’m going to be all right. I tried to move with my arms and legs. And everything was okay... Everything except the head. It’s still ringing in it.“

Mladá Boleslav won the game 4-3 and devoted the victory to Tomáš Demel.


Petr Strapáč hit Tomáš Demel of Mladá Boleslav into the boards

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