Nottingham Forest star Taiwo Awoniyi may have had a 50/50 chance of surviving before he was placed in an induced coma, a top doctor has said.

The Nigerian striker suffered a freak injury during Forest’s controversial 2-2 draw against Leicester City, colliding stomach-first into a goal post when sliding for the ball. Both the Daily Mail and Sky Sports reported that he suffered a ruptured intestine in the incident.

Despite signally he could continue, Awoniyi was quickly substituted and later placed in an induced coma so he could undergo surgery. His Premier League club say the 27-year-old is “recovering well so far following urgent surgery on a serious abdominal injury”.

But reports have since emerged that his injury could have been fatal if not treated sooner, and now Dr Gareth Nye of the University of Salford has revealed that the reported threat to his life wasn’t understated.

“Reports suggest he has suffered a ruptured intestine also known as gastrointestinal perforation caused by the collision with the goal post during the game,” Dr Nye said.

“One of the more serious complications from this condition is sepsis and GI perforation is always an emergency situation.

“In essence you have undigested food, stomach acid, enzymes designed to breakdown tissue and bacteria from inside your intestines, suddenly having free reign around your abdominal pelvic region, which has huge consequences to the patient.”

He added: “Because of this, risk of death can be as high as 50%.”

Dr Nye then explained the basics of the operation, described in reports as ‘complex’.

“Patients typically have emergency surgery to remove damaged tissue, repair the hole and clean the region,” he said.

“They will then be placed on what’s called bowel rest, which means nil by mouth essentially and given strong antibiotics to lower infection risk.

“In some cases patients may have a colostomy or ileostomy which allows the contents of your intestines to empty into a bag, through a stoma, a hole created in your abdomen.

“This may be temporary allowing healing to occur uninterrupted which would then require a second surgery to reattach the intestines. In other cases, the surgery is permanent.

“He had surgery on Monday night and remains in hospital, with the rest of the procedure set to be completed on Wednesday which suggests he has had a multistage surgery to protect the intestines described above.”

In a club statement, Forest said the seriousness of the injury was “a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game, and why a player’s health and well-being must always come first”.

The club also hit back at criticism of owner Evangelos Marinakis for entering the field and appearing to argue with manager Nuno Esperito Santo.

Awoniyi could not be substituted because Forest had used their last available switch and would be left with 10 men.

However, as the seriousness of Awoniyi’s injury became more apparent, he was forced to come off. After they were left to play the last few minutes with 10 men, it appeared Marinakis took issue with Nuno.

Forest’s statement said: “At Nottingham Forest, this principle is not just policy for us; it is the deeply held belief and conviction of our owner. To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn’t just a football club – it’s family – and he instils that message in all of us.

“That is why he was so personally and emotionally invested in the situation that unfolded at the City Ground on Sunday. His reaction was one of deep care, responsibility, and emotional investment in one of our own. He didn’t just see it as an isolated incident, but as something that reflected the values and unity of the entire team.

“In moments like that he demonstrates his leadership, not just through words, but through action and presence. In the final 10 minutes of the game, when he saw our player clearly in discomfort, struggling through visible pain, it became increasingly difficult for him to stay on the sidelines.

“His deep frustration at seeing our player lying on the ground in severe pain – something no one with genuine care could ignore – triggered him to go onto the pitch. It was instinctive, human, and a reflection of just how much this team and its people mean to him. He would do the same again if such an unfortunate event were ever to reoccur.

“The truth of the matter is there was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium. There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.

“In light of this, we urge former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgement and fake news online, especially when they do not have the full facts and context. Baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal social media traction serves no one – least of all the injured player.

“We call on these influential voices to show the same respect for player welfare that they often demand from others. Let concern come before commentary.

“At Nottingham Forest, we believe the mental and physical well-being of our players and coaching staff must always take precedence – over media narratives, inflammatory judgements, and certainly over self-promotion. In moments like these, the game must unite around those who put their bodies and minds on the line every week. That’s what real leadership looks like in our game.”