Former
France defender Jean-Pierre Adams has died at the age of 73, nearly 40 years
after falling into a coma. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Nice defender was
administered a near-fatal anaesthetic dose, causing brain damage, during a routine
knee surgery in 1982.

Born in
Senegal, Adams made over 140 appearances for Nice and PSG, along with 22 for
France. He formed a formidable defensive partnership with Marius Tresor, with
the two being known as ‘The Black Guard’, according to The Guardian.

In a
statement, PSG said Adams exuberated the “joy of living” and that he was a man
of “charisma and experience commanded respect”. “Paris Saint-Germain offers its
condolences to his family and loved ones,” the club said.

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Nice said
they will pay tribute to their former defender before their next match on
September 19 against Monaco.

Nimes also
expressed their “most sincere condolences to his loved ones and his family”.
Adams played 84 games for Nimes from 1970-1973, before joining Nice. He played
for PSG from 1977-1979.

Much of the
staff at the hospital in Lyon – where Adams was operated on after damaging a tendon
in his knee while on a coaching training camp – were on strike. However, his
operation still went ahead, with the anesthetist looking after eight patients including
Adams at the same time.

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Adams was
left in charge of a trainee, who later admitted he was “not up to the task I
was entrusted with,” according to the BBC.

The overburdened
anesthetist and the trainee made a slew of mistakes, which led to Adams
suffering a heart attack and eventually brain damage. In the mid-1990s, the
anesthetist and the trainee were punished for their error, a month’s suspension
and a €750 fine.

Adams was
discharged from the hospital 15 months later and has been looked after at home
by his wife, Bernadette.