The Day Virgil Van Dijk Nearly Died

Before he was known as one of the best defenders in world football, Virgil van Dijk had to fight a terrifying battle for his own life. When he was just 21 years old and playing for the Dutch club Groningen, a sudden medical emergency nearly ended his story. He was rushed to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis. The situation quickly became much worse than a standard appendix issue. The illness escalated into peritonitis and uraemia, which is a severe kidney infection. Medical experts know that this specific combination of infections has claimed the lives of many patients. Instead of thinking about his football career, the young defender found himself in a desperate fight for survival. The reality of his condition was frightening, leaving the normally strong athlete feeling completely helpless. Looking back on the terrible ordeal, van Dijk shared exactly how bad the situation became. "I looked death in the eye — and it was a terrible experience," van Dijk said. "I remember lying in bed. All I could see were tubes and wires on my body. My body was broken. I was not capable of anything. The worst things went through my mind." The only reason he survived the initial shock to his system was his incredible physical condition. Medical staff at the hospital clearly told his mother, Ruby, that he only pulled through the worst parts of the illness because of his extraordinary fitness levels as a professional athlete. Even though his physical strength kept him breathing, the days that followed were harrowing for the young player and his family. The fear of what might happen next was so heavy that the 21-year-old was forced to make heartbreaking legal decisions about his future. He feared so much for what lay ahead that he wrote a legal will from his hospital bed. Explaining this painful and emotional moment, he said, "My mother and I were both praying to God and, to be honest, we were discussing various scenarios. At one point, I had to sign these documents. It was a will. If I would not make it out of hospital, part of my money would go to my mum." Surviving this near-death experience deeply changed him and helped build the immense mental toughness that eventually guided him to become the best player in the world.