Chelsea’s 18-year-old winger Jesse Derry was taken to hospital by ambulance after a sickening head collision during their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.
Derry, the academy prospect who was making his first senior start for the Blues, had been the Blues’ best player up until he collided with Forest’s Zach Abbott.
The teenager alarmingly did not use his arms to break his fall as he collapsed to the floor in mid-air.
Immediately, Chelsea’s medical rushed to his aid where he was given oxygen before being removed on a stretcher with an ambulance arriving at Stamford Bridge to take him away.
Derry’s family were with him, including his father and former Premier League midfielder, Shaun.
Post-match, Chelsea provided an update on Derry’s status – revealing that he is conscious.
Jesse Derry suffered a worrying head injury after an accidental collision with Zach Abbott
Derry was immediately attended to by Chelsea’s medical staff following the unfortunate clash
The 18-year-old was carried off on a stretcher before being taken to hosptial for his injury
Derry is the son of Shaun (right) – who played in the Premier League (pictured for QPR in 2012)
‘Jesse Derry has been taken to hospital as a precaution following his first-half substitution during today’s #PL game against Nottingham Forest,’ they wrote on X.
‘Jesse is conscious, talking and undergoing precautionary checks. We wish him a speedy recovery and thank the medical staff for their swift response.’
The incident saw a 10-minute delay to proceedings at Stamford Bridge, with Sky Sports – who were televising the match – electing not to show any replays of the incident.
The head injury inflicted on Derry saw Chelsea awarded a penalty by referee, Anthony Taylor.
However, Cole Palmer, who is low on confidence, saw his spot-kick saved by Matz Sels when he tried to find the bottom-left corner. That meant Chelsea went in at half-time trailing 2-0.
England manager Thomas Tuchel was at Stamford Bridge to watch Palmer, who is not guaranteed to be selected for this summer’s World Cup, alongside the other England contenders.
Derry started on the left wing with both Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto having picked up knocks before this visit of Forest, according to interim boss Calum McFarlane.
Chelsea went on to lose the game 3-1, as the Blues suffered their sixth-straight Premier League defeat.
