Former UFC fighter Angela Magana is currently in a coma after complications resulting from an emergency spinal operation yesterday in Puerto Rico.
The 35-year-old Magana had been due to fight in the Combate Americas promotion soon, but she injured her back in training last week and had to go to hospital, which led to her being diagnosed with a herniated disc.
Magana attempted to continue training for the fight, but was in too much pain and so underwent surgery to have a nerve block, but that didn’t work as planned and as a result she was diagnosed with a far more serious spinal condition, Cauda Equina syndrome.
That led to Magana requiring emergency surgery yesterday and in videos posted beforehand Magana admitted she was concerned about it.
Then, hours later her coaching team posted troubling news on her Twitter account.
“Message from Coaching Staff there have complications and they can not wake her up. They are trying many options we will keep you up to date. Thank you for the out pouring of concern and love #TeamLaPerla #🙏.”
Further updates since have sadly not led to an improvement in her condition.
“Angela still unresponsive I will be here in the icu at hospital as nuero team works on this,” her coach wrote. “Remeber lifs is so short and can change in a blink of an eye! We Love You Magaña Team La perla – At HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO DE ADULTOS.”
“We are cloming close to 24 hours and not waking feom coma, though all trials. We know she will wake up!! Sincerely @teamlaperla.”
In an interview with MMAJunkie, her Gabriel Lamastus explained more worrying details about the situation.
“The surgery went fine,” Lamastus said. “The problem was anesthesia. It’s very rare that patients react bad to anesthesia, but it does happen, and I guess this is one of those rare cases. But I’m being positive. She’ll be fine, and she’ll wake up. She’s a fighter. I’m just staying positive.”
According to Lamastus, Magana’s own aunt previously passed away due to having had anaesthesia.
