Cagliari talent Trepy saved from drowning thanks to rapid response | OneFootball

Cagliari talent Yael Trepy is breathing without oxygen after coming out of a coma, as the hospital confirms ‘getting help rapidly was decisive’ after he nearly drowned in a pool.

The 20-year-old striker had played in the Coppa Italia match against Arezzo on August 14, starting for his side in the 1-0 victory sealed by Alessandro Deiola’s penalty.

Just two days later, he was rushed to hospital in critical condition after getting into difficulty in the deep end of the pool at a private villa in Porto Cervo, Sardinia.

He inhaled a significant amount of water before his difficulty was spotted and he was dragged out of the pool, then was intubated and airlifted to hospital, where he was placed in an induced coma to manage the removal of the fluid from his lungs.

Trepy out of induced coma

CAGLIARI, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Yael Trepy of Cagliari inspect the pitch before the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and SS Lazio at Stadio Sant’Elia on February 21, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Fortunately, Trepy has been taken out of the coma, is now breathing without the assistance of oxygen, and has even started eating and drinking again.

Stefania Milia, the director of the Intensive Care Unit at the SS Annunziata hospital in Sassari held a press conference to give updates on the player’s situation.

“Getting help rapidly was decisive,” she confirmed, as the ambulance arrived within five minutes to provide first aid.

“He has no evident neurological deficits, but needs to be kept under observation for the time being.”

CREMONA, ITALY – JANUARY 08: Yael Trepy of Cagliari celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Giovanni Zini on January 08, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)

There was one very reassuring revelation about the first thing Trepy said to his doctors.

“He corrected me, because I couldn’t pronounce his name properly.”

It is not clear when Trepy will be back on the field, but the situation could’ve been far, far worse in the circumstances.

The striker joined the Cagliari youth academy in January 2023 and has now made nine senior appearances for the team, scoring one goal.