By Amaechi Agbo
After spending 39 years in coma at the hospital, France football defender, Jean-Pierre Adams has died at the age of 73.
Jean-Pierre Adams was in coma since March 7, 1982 but was confirmed dead in the early hours of Monday, September 6, 2021.
According to report, Adams, a former French international defender, passed away earlier Monday at the Nîmes University Hospital.
He had been in a deep coma since 1982, following an anaesthesiology error while he underwent an operation to treat a ligament rupture injury.
Nîmes Olympiques, one of Adams’ former clubs, confirmed his passing on social media, saying in a statement: “We learned this morning of the disappearance of Jean-Pierre Adams.
“He had worn the colors of Nîmes Olympique 84 times and formed with Marius Trésor ‘the black guard’ in the French team.
“The Club offers its most sincere condolences to its loved ones and to its family.”
OGC Nice, who Adams also once played for, also said on Twitter: “The #OGCNice learned with heartbreaking the disappearance of Jean-Pierre Adams plunged into a coma since March 17, 1982.
“The former defender wore the Gym colors 145 times from 1973 to 1977. OGCNice is associated with the grief of his relatives who have looked after him for 39 years.”
It added that it would pay tribute to the late footballer before a forthcoming game later this month, saying: “A tribute will be paid to Jean-Pierre Adams before #OGCNASM Sunday, September 19 at the Allianz Riviera.”
Paris Saint-Germain, who Adams also played for, also paid tribute: “The @PSG_inside lost, this Monday, September 6, one of his glorious elders. Defender of the Rouge et Bleu and the Equipe de France, Jean-Pierre Adams wore the Parisian colors from 1977 to 1979.
“The Club extends its condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Adams was born in Dakar, Senegal, but was later sent to school in France and fostered by a French family who lived near Paris.
He started playing as a striker with Entente BFN in 1967, before signing with Nîmes in 1970, remaining in Division One for the next nine seasons with Nice from 1973-1977 and Paris Saint Germain from 1977-1979.
After one year in Division 2 with Mulhouse, Adams retired in 1981 at the age of 33.
The following year, he was admitted to a hospital in Lyon to undergo a routine knee operation.
According to the Guardian, he was given anaesthetic that was supposed to knock him out for just a few hours, but he never woke up.
He was eventually moved home where wife Bernadette cared for him – reportedly sleeping in the same room as him so that she could get up in the middle of the night to turn him.
Speaking with Midi Libre in 2012, Berndatte said: “I have the feeling that time stopped on 17 March 1982.
“There are no changes, either good or bad. While he does not need respiratory assistance, he remains in a vegetative state.
“Last year, we met a neurologist specialising in brain injury from Carémeau [the hospital in Nîmes] through an acquaintance. He ran his tests and examinations at the hospital, which confirmed very significant damage.
“There was a lot of damage in the brain. But he does not age, but for a few white hairs.”
Adams was 34 when he slipped into a deep coma in 1982 following an anesthesia error during routine knee surgery at Lyon Hospital.
He was said to have been in ‘great shape’ going into the operation and was expected to wake up after only a few hours.
But Adams remained in the coma for 39 years.
Adams was pronounced dead on Monday at the Nimes University Hospital.
The 73-year-old was born in Dakar, Senegal, in 1948 and went on to play 22 times for the France national team from 1972 to 1976.
He also made 41 appearances for Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, although spent the majority of his career playing at Nice.
According to the Guardian, Adams was undertaking a coaching course in Dijon when he became concerned about his knee.
The footballer ended up putting the course on hold on the fourth day and headed to the hospital in Lyon for a scan.
The scan showed Adams had suffered damage to the tendon at the back of his knee, and a surgeon suggested that the best course of action was to operate.
“It’s all fine, I’m in great shape,” Adams reportedly told his wife Bernadette on the morning of the operation.
Adams was placed in a coma for surgery, but he never awoke from it 39 years after
