The former ice hockey professional Petteri Nummelin has seriously injured her eyes in an accident in the sauna and is almost blind.
What happened? In mid-January, the former NFL star, who works as an assistant coach at the Swiss club HC Ajoie, wanted to relax every day in his portable steam sauna. But there was a problem with the water connection. Nummelin wanted to solve it immediately – and got a gush of boiling hot water.
Severe burns on the face, right arm and the chest were the result. The worst were affected. “I was impatient, but above all stupid,” the Finn recalled the incident in the “Blick”.
The former ice hockey professional in the hospital in Lausanne was primarily concerned. He had to keep his eyes closed for three days after the serious accident. “I never felt any pain. The doctors were surprised,” said the 52-year-old.
He was then treated in a specialized eye clinic in Basel – with the help of his employer. “The club organized the treatments well. I always had to be driven,” said Nummelin, who was also supported by his sister and father in this difficult time.
Ex-ice hockey professional Nummelin: “Don’t see it as before the accident”
In the meantime, the circumstances are doing well – with restrictions. “Even today I don’t see it like before the accident. I can’t read any news on my cell phone,” he said.
Nummelin returned to the gang in the 2-1 win of Ajoie against the EV Zug last Saturday. He protected his eyes with sunglasses.
It is also clear that he had to do without his beloved sauna ranges in the near future, said Nummelin, who won the Finnish ice hockey selection in his active career, among other things.