PARIS — Jean-Pierre Adams, the former French footballer, who was in a coma for 39 long years, died at the age of 73 on Sept. 6.
During a match with Chalon, a French soccer club, Adams got injured and was operated under anesthesia at the Hospital de Lyon on March 17, 1982.
After that, Adams fell into a coma. In a state of coma for more than 39 years, he lived in the suburbs of Nimes, his wife Bernadette watching by his side.
Born in Senegal, the defender made more than 140 appearances for top tier French soccer club Nice and also played for French heavyweight Paris Saint-Germain and Nimes. Defender of the French team, Adams, had represented the colors of Paris Saint-Germain from 1977 to 1979.
At the age of 8, Adams had left Senegal. Twice, finalist of the French Amateur Championship, Adams was spotted by Nimes and turned professional in 1970. After Nimes, it is under the colors of Nice that he continued his progress. In 1977, Paris Saint-Germain signed him for three seasons. In 1979, he left Paris and joined Mulhouse then FC Chalon-sur-Saone, as a player-coach.
Tributes have followed from his former clubs Nimes, Nice, and Paris Saint-Germain, as they all pay respects to a pioneer who paved the way for French-African footballers.
Adams made 84 appearances for Nimes, with the club expressing their “most sincere condolences to his loved ones and his family.” Nice promised a tribute before their next home game against Monaco on Sept. 19.
In a statement, Paris Saint-Germain said Adams’ “joie de vivre, charisma and experience commanded respect.”
“Adams proved his worth in central defense for the family-oriented side and was selected by France for a tour of Brazil, making his debut appearance against a pan-African team on June 15, 1972,” said Paris Saint-Germain in the statement.
“He went on to win 22 caps for Les Bleus between 1972 and 1976.”
“We learned this morning of the disappearance of Jean-Pierre Adams,” tweeted Nimes.
“He had worn the colors of Nîmes Olympique 84 times and formed with Marius Trésor, the blackguard in the French team. The club offers its most sincere condolences to its loved ones and to its family.”
Nice said the club would pay tribute to Adams before their next home game against Monaco on September 19.
“#OGCNice is deeply saddened by the news that Jean-Pierre Adams has passed away, having fallen into a coma on March 17, 1982 (145 appearances for Le Gym between 1973 and 1977),” said OGC Nice.
“OGC Nice offers its deepest condolences to all the loved ones who watched over him for 39 years.”
Adams also made 84 appearances for Nimes, who said they were sending their “most sincere condolences to his loved ones and his family.”
(With inputs from ANI)
Edited by Saptak Datta and Ritaban Misra
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