{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from February 2005

ARTELL `LUCKY TO BE ALIVE`
1st February 2005 14:34


ARTELL IN DVT SHOCK
Evening Post, 21 January 2005
BY MARK ROACH

Dave Artell has been told he could die if he returns to action too soon after being taken to hospital with a deep-vein thrombosis.

The Mansfield defender is waiting to hear if his career could already be over following a complication with a routine Achilles operation.

Artell said the life-threatening condition was under control but he had no intention of rushing his comeback, as he could risk bleeding to death.

He is waiting for the results of a test which he hopes will show that there is no infection in his Achilles.

If there is, he could have already played his last game.

Artell said: "You hear about people dying from deep vein thrombosis.

"If I'd let it go on without treatment it could have turned into something more serious."

Artell is in the Thornbury Hospital in Sheffield and says he will not be discharged until Monday at the earliest.

He had an operation on his Achilles on December 30 and appeared to be making good progress in his recovery.

But a clot in his leg caused the stitches to burst.

"It's getting sorted now and I'm in the right place," he said.

"I had the operation at the end of December and had the wound stitched up, and everything seemed to be fine.

"I was told I could be back playing in two weeks, so I was shocked when I found I had a deep vein thrombosis.

"Luckily they caught it in time. If I'd have left it any longer it could have gone up to my heart.

"The wound came open at the weekend and it was quite severe, it was pouring with blood.

"I went to A &E and it was stitched up, then on Sunday and Monday I was in a lot of pain in my calf.

"I've never experienced pain like it. I went back in on Wednesday afternoon and the doctor said he thought it might be deep vein thrombosis, but he wasn't sure.

"So I had a scan and they found a blood clot behind my knee and one in my calf.

"I was admitted and they are going to thin my blood. I can't play for at least six weeks.

"I could bleed to death if I get a knock and it's not worth the risk.

"I've been told that if I've got an infection in my Achilles my career would be over."

Artell has no idea what caused the DVT. "I can't get my head round it," he said. "The wound came open because of the thrombosis, but I've been mobile, so I don't understand why it happened.

"I'm in good spirits. I'm in good health generally and I'm in a good place and it looks like I should make a full recovery.

"The pain in my calf was unbearable at the weekend but it's subsided quite a bit. I was just thankful it was caught so soon."
--------------
Artell 'lucky to be alive'
CHAD website, 20 January 2005
STAGS central defender Dave Artell was lucky to be alive today after being rushed to hospital in the night.
He was rushed in with suspected deep thrombosis caused, apparantly, by a plaster cast that had been fitted too tightly to his ankle.
He will now have to spend the next six to eight weeks taking it easy on a course of blood thinning pills.
Artell, only a couple of weeks away from a return to action after an Achille's heel operation, had burst his stitches and returned to hospital.
There he was re-stitched and a small plaster cast put over them for protection.
"It's beyond me how this could happen," said caretaker-manager Carlton Palmer.
"If his wife hadn't reacted as she did when he said he was feeling faint then he could have died.
"Apparantly if he had slept through it he would have died.
"The cast was put on too tight and he is now in hospital on a drip. He has got to be careful and take it easy for two months.
"I am very disappointed, both for me and for the boy. But he is lucky to be alive."
-------
All at the SSA wish Dave Artell all the best for a speedy recovery.

---------------
Sheffield Star, 22 January 2005

'Play again too soon and it could kill you'

FORMER Rotherham United footballer Dave Artell has been told he could die if he returns to action too soon after being rushed to a Sheffield hospital with a deep-vein thrombosis.

The Mansfield defender is waiting to hear if his career could already be over following a complication with a routine calf operation.
Artell said the life-threatening condition is under control but he has no intention of rushing his comeback, as he could risk bleeding to death.
He is waiting for the results of a test which he hopes will show that there is no infection in his Achilles.
If there is, he could have already played his last game.
Artell said: "You hear about people dying from deep vein thrombosis.
"If I'd let it go on without treatment it could have turned into something more serious."
Artell is in Thornbury Hospital in Sheffield and says he will not be discharged until Monday at the earliest.
He had an operation on his calf on December 30 and appeared to be making good progress in his recovery.
But a clot in his leg caused the stitches to burst.
"It's getting sorted now and I'm in the right place," added Artell.
"I had the operation at the end of December and had the wound stitched up, and everything seemed to fine.
"I was told I could be back playing in two weeks, so I was shocked when I found I had a deep-vein thrombosis.
"Luckily they caught it in time, if I'd have left it any longer it could have gone up to my heart.
"The wound came open at the weekend and it was quite severe, it was pouring with blood.
"I went to A&E and it was stitched up, then on Sunday and Monday I was in a lot of pain in my calf. I've never experienced pain like it.
"I went back in on Wednesday afternoon and the doctor said he thought it might be deep-vein thrombosis, but he wasn't sure.
"So I had a scan and they found a blood clot behind my knee and one in my calf.
"I was admitted and they are going to thin my blood.
"I can't play for at least six weeks. I could bleed to death if get a knock and it's not worth the risk.
"I've been told that if I've got an infection in my Achilles my career would be over."
Artell has no idea what caused the DVT.
"I can't get my head round it. The wound came open because of the thrombosis, but I've been mobile, so I don't understand why it happened.," he said.
"I'm in good spirits. I'm in good health generally and I'm in a good place and it looks like I should make a full recovery.
"The pain in my calf was unbearable at the weekend but it's subsided quite a bit.
"I was just thankful it was caught so soon."

 

Latest | February 2005