From Reuters :
Finnish player Markus Paatelainen has revealed how a newspaper article in his homeland helped save his leg from amputation after a blood clot developed hours after he was caught on the shin by a late tackle.
The 23-year-old brother of Finland international and current Cowdenbeath manager Mixu was left in agony when he was scythed down playing for the Scottish fourth division side in a 4-0 league win at Elgin City on Saturday.
He began to feel severe pain in the leg on the journey home and remembered a story he read about impact-related blood clots.
Paatelainen, a former Aberdeen player, told The Scottish Sun: ‘My parents send me Finnish newspapers every week and I read about an ice hockey player who was in a similar situation two weeks ago.
‘When I started to feel the pain while I was on the bus it was unbearable and I thought it might be the same thing. I knew I had to go to hospital then so I got Mixu to take me.’
Markus was caught on the outside of his shin by the tackle and also twisted his knee causing a blood clot.
Hospital x-rays revealed there was no break, but doctors spotted the clot after measuring pressure on the shin and operated immediately at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.