Nigerian footballer declared brain dead after severe injury

Non-league football club Kings Park Rangers have announced that their player, Saburi Olayinka Adeniji, has been medically declared brain dead following a catastrophic brain stem injury.

Adeniji was admitted to the intensive care unit at Queen’s Hospital on January 15, where his condition has since deteriorated. In a heartbreaking update, the club confirmed that doctors have classified his condition as terminal.

In an official statement, Kings Park Rangers described the gravity of the situation and appealed for urgent support to assist Adeniji’s family.

“We are in urgent need of support to help the family of Saburi Olayinka Adeniji, a devoted husband, loving father, and valued member of Kings Park Rangers Football Club,” the statement read.

According to the club, Adeniji’s consultant in critical care confirmed that his condition has continued to worsen and that he is now considered to be imminently dying.

“Due to the severity of his injury, Saburi has been medically classified as brain dead,” the club added.

Kings Park Rangers revealed that recent legal changes initially caused delays, but the hospital has now granted a short window to allow Adeniji’s family to travel to the UK.

“The hospital has compassionately allowed a short window of time to enable Saburi’s family to travel to the UK so they may be with him before he passes naturally on life support or life support is withdrawn,” the statement said.

An official hospital letter has been issued to support an urgent visa application for Adeniji’s wife, who is currently in Nigeria with their young daughter.

To help cover the costs of emergency visas, flights, accommodation, and living expenses, the club launched a GoFundMe campaign with a target of £13,000. As of the latest update, more than £8,000 has already been raised.

Adeniji leaves behind a four-year-old daughter, whom the club described as his greatest motivation.

“He worked tirelessly to provide for his family and was deeply committed to giving his daughter a good education and a better future,” the statement noted.

Managed by former Premier League striker Jamie Cureton, Kings Park Rangers expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming response from the football community.