Former Moroccan-Dutch footballer Abdelhak Nouri is awake from coma, his brother says

Moroccan-Dutch Abdelhak Nouri, a former Ajax player who suffered a cardiac arrhythmia attack that left him with severe and permanent brain damage, is doing much better. According to his brother Abderrahim Nouri, the winger has awoken from a coma after two years and nine months.

Nouri is now home with his family and he is able to «raise his eyebrows» as a sign of confirmation, his brother said during an interview with DWDD. «He is awake; he sneezes, eats and burps. We watch television together and sometimes he gets emotional but often there is a smile on his face», he added.

His family cares for him at home. «We have divided the tasks among ourselves and it will stay that way. I don't think there is a better environment», his brother explained.

«It's a tough ordeal, but we're doing our best. We want the best for him. We want Appie to get better», his father Mohammed said.

In July 2017, Nouri suffered a cardiac arrhythmia attack during a pre-season friendly match.