Former Welsh rugby player Alix Popham has been hospitalized after sustaining a suspected concussion during an Ironman event in Tenby, Pembrokeshire. The 43-year-old, who was participating in the event to raise funds for his brain injury charity, Head for Change, was reportedly kicked in the head during the swim stage, leading to concerns about his well-being.
Popham, who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia at the age of 40, is also among the 300 rugby players involved in a lawsuit against rugby governing bodies regarding head injuries. An Ironman spokesperson confirmed that precautionary checks were conducted following Popham's injury during the triathlon on Sunday.
Progressive Rugby, a player welfare group, expressed their dismay on social media, stating, "After months of intense training to raise money for concussion education and support, Alix has had to withdraw after suffering a suspected concussion from being kicked in the head during the swim."
In a subsequent post, Progressive Rugby mentioned that Alix Popham "was unable to recognize wife Mel as he came out of the water." They also noted that although he initially appeared okay despite feeling dizzy and experiencing a headache, his condition deteriorated, prompting his transfer to the hospital by ambulance.
The Head for Change charity, for which Popham was fundraising, focuses on promoting brain health in sports and providing support to former players dealing with brain-related conditions such as dementia. Popham, in a previous interview with the BBC, revealed that doctors had estimated he suffered over 100,000 sub-concussions during his rugby career, resulting in memory gaps.
The full Ironman Wales course entails a 2.4-mile (3.9km) sea swim, a challenging 112-mile (180km) bike ride, and a full marathon, all to be completed within 17 hours.
Published: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66700604
Date Published: Monday 11 September 2023
Image courtesy of: wynbergmedia
