Jean-Pierre Adams, a former France player, died on Monday, September 6 after falling into a coma for almost 40 years as a result of a medical error.
His former clubs Paris St-Germain and Nimes confirmed the former defender’s demise.
"Paris Saint-Germain has lost one of its glorious former players. PSG offers its condolences to his family and loved ones," stated PSG in a statement.
The Dakar-born Adams won 22 caps for Les Bleus in the 1970s, forming with Marius Tresor what was known as ‘the Black Guard’. He played for Nimes from 1970-1973 and for PSG from 1977-1997 after joining from OGC Nice.
According to CNN, in March 1982, Adams had an operation on a damaged tendon in his knee. But at the time his surgery was scheduled, the hospital staff was on strike, and he was being cared for by an anesthesiologist with seven other patients and a trainee.
He was intubated incorrectly during the procedure, as one tube blocked the path to his lungs, which led him to suffer a cardiac arrest and brain damage.
As a result, he went into a coma for decades and ever since he has been cared for by his wife Bernadette at their home in France, and has been survived by his two children, Frederic and Laurent.
Nice football club in their own statement added that the club would pay tribute to Adams before their next home game against Monaco on September 19.