Yoann Folly has indicated that he may have suffered a cardiac arrest similar to that of Piermario Morosini and Fabrice Muamba if Aberdeen physio John Sharp had not helped detect a blood clot on his lungs.
The 26-year old French-born Togo international was continually coughing up blood after training but was not sure why he was having such ill-effects.
18 months ago, Sharp sent him for a scan which showed that Folly had to stop playing football as the blood clot may have caused a heart attack, which was fatal in the case of Livorno's Morosini.
Today he is no longer an Aberdeen player after being released by the club but he is extremely grateful to the Dons for helping him get through a very difficult time.
"When I found out it was a shock but at the same time a relief to know what the problem was and learn it was treatable.
"I have medicine which thins the blood and am back training but I am unable to take part in contact training as a knock to the head could be problematic.
"It has been a hard time but my family have helped me and good friends at the club stopped me going crazy.""If the illness had not been diagnosed it could have been very serious," he told Record Sport.
