FOR nearly two weeks he had to tackle “the toughest game of his life”, struggling through a medically induced coma and unable to breathe on his own.
Day in and day out his loved ones waited to see if he’d ever make it off the ventilator that was keeping him alive, unsure of when they’d see things take a turn.
The relief was palpable when Derick Hougaard (40) opened his eyes. Afrikaans singer Nádine (41), his partner of about six years, was at his side and says he’s lucid and there’s no sign of brain damage.
“He cried the first time he opened his eyes,” Nádine tells us. “I was emotional, he was emotional – and then he cried.”
