This is just unreal! Former German U17 international Jan Engels (23) injured his right foot, but was actually operated on on his left, healthy foot. In an interview with «Spox» speaks about the incredible story of his injury.
Engels tore the syndesmosis tape in his right foot in 2015, when he was 17 years old at the time, in a B youth game of Karlsruher SC. An operation was inevitable. When he wakes up after the operation, he finds that he is in a lot of pain. His mother assures him that this is normal.
Shortly afterwards she wants to look at his foot. Engels: “She lifted the ceiling and at first I couldn’t believe what I was seeing: my left leg was bandaged, screws and plates were in my left foot.” Exactly, in his left, perfectly healthy foot.
Doctor was heartbroken
Still in shock, he tries to talk to his doctor. He tries to explain his mistake. He said in tears that he saw a misalignment in his left foot and therefore operated on it.
Anyone else would have gone mad in Engel’s place. Not so the footballer. He tries to comfort the doctor: “You did a great operation, unfortunately it was the wrong leg.” He just asks him to remove the screws as soon as possible. Great class.
Apart from lawsuit
Another doctor would have been in charge of the second operation, right? Not at all. Engels once again places his trust in the doctor. As if this weren’t already a very human gesture, he also dispenses with an advertisement.
“We’re all human and we make mistakes,” says Engels. In addition, several mistakes were allegedly committed. “The ankle was already neglected on the ward.” The pressure to take action against the doctor was great. Because of the wrong intervention, his dream of taking part in the U17 World Cup was completely over.
Today he plays in the US college league and hopes to play in the MLS soon. It’s an incredible story from an even more incredible person.