Naka Drotské has had to have a tracheal tube inserted into his throat to help him breathe.
The former Springbok hooker was shot three times during an attempted robbery at his brother Tinus’ smallholding in Kameeldrift, outside of Pretoria, on the night of 29 November.
He was discharged from hospital after being operated on, but suffered a setback in his recovery and had to be readmitted to the ICU ward earlier in the week.
ALSO READ: Drotské ‘fighting for his life’ in ICU
According to Netwerk24, doctors managed to stop the intestinal bleeding and put Drotské on a new type of antibiotic to fight the lung infection he picked up. However, they had to do an emergency tracheotomy to insert a tracheal tube to stabilise his breathing.
Hospital spokesperson Barbara Steenkamp said, while it is against hospital policy to divulge a patient’s medical status, she could confirm that Drotské is on full ventilation and it will remain like that for three days.