Undefeated Aberdeen professional boxer Gregor McPherson has detailed the “nightmare” of suffering a collapsed lung and undergoing emergency surgery.
The 19-year-old has had to withdraw from a scheduled fight in Aberdeen next month due to the shock injury.
One of the hottest rising stars in Scottish pro boxing, McPherson felt pain in his chest, and suspecting a torn muscle, he decided to get it checked at hospital.
He was left in shock when an X-ray revealed he had suffered a collapsed lung.
The boxer was immediately rushed into theatre, where surgeons operated to re-inflate the lung – while he remained conscious.
Medics believe a cough may have caused the teen’s lung to collapse.
McPherson said: “I felt quite sore in the morning, but thought the chest pains were because I had pulled a muscle. So I carried on with my day the way I normally would.
“When I started training, I felt short of breath and thought there was something wrong.
“Then, after I finished work, I went up to hospital just in case.
“Once I had a chest X-ray, I was rushed through for an operation.
“It was just a case of going through to the operating theatre and getting it sorted.
“It all happened so quickly.”
‘They put a tube in my chest’
After four days in hospital, former Aberdeen FC youth star McPherson is now back home and on the mend.
He hopes to return to light training in six to eight weeks.
He said: “When I was told I had to have an operation and had to stay awake, I did get a bit nervous.
“Staying awake was a nightmare. It did worry me.
“They put a tube in my chest to take all the air out so that my lung could re-inflate.
“It was a bit of a scare.
“They reckon the collapsed lung was from a single cough and said that is quite common in tall, skinny men.
“Something as little as a cough or a sneeze can set it off. I was a bit shocked by that.
“Once my lung re-inflated, I was able to go home.
“I’m not allowed to train for six to eight weeks, and when I do go back, it will be very little training to start with.”
‘I can feel a little short of breath’
McPherson was scheduled to box at the Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen, on Saturday November 25.
However, he was forced to withdraw from that bout due to the lung injury.
He said: “I’m okay pain-wise now.
“It is just if I’m up on my feet for too long then I can feel a little short of breath.
“My chest is still a bit sore from the tube going in and I can feel the muscles around it.
“I’m getting better each day, which is a good sign.
“Going from training three times a day to absolutely nothing is tough. I’m so used to training constantly and now I have all that time and don’t know what to do with it.
“I’ve had the chance to have family time, but I’m also itching to get back to the gym.
“I’ll start light training probably at the end of November.
“For full on training it will depend how I get on with the light training.
“If I find that easy, it will be quick – and I’m hoping that’s the case.
“Hopefully there will be fight news for me at the start of the year in 2024.”
Frustrating year with fractured spine to contend with too
The collapsed lung is the latest injury setback for McPherson, who suffered a stress fracture to his spine earlier this year.
McPherson had to rest for 10 weeks due to the back injury, ruling him out of a another scheduled fight in Aberdeen in March.
Despite the two injury issues, McPherson has won three fights this year.
He extended his 100 percent record to four wins from four with an impressive 40-36 defeat of Simas Volosinas last month at the Ardoe House Hotel and Spa, Aberdeen.
He said: “With the spine fracture and now this, it has been a bit of a nightmare.
“However, in boxing terms everything has gone well as I’m still undefeated with four wins from four.
“Hopefully I’ll return at the start of next year, get another win and come back stronger.”
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