The South African Hockey Association said in a statement Wednesday that national players Jonty Robinson and team captain Austin Smith have recovered from Dengue Fever, a mosquito-borne illness, which they contracted during the World League Semi-Final tournament in Johor Bahru, Malaysia last week.
“Austin and Jonty are well and will be flying to Amsterdam and South Africa respectively and will arrive at both destinations on Thursday,” said SA Hockey Association CEO Marissa Langeni. “Austin flies to Amsterdam on Wednesday evening while Jonty and team doctor Gavin Shang, who has been at the players’ side while they were recovering in hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia over the last few days, will be back home on Thursday.”
The players plus Dr Shang moved with Dr Shang from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur over the weekend due to improved support from South Africa’s medial contacts there, while the duo were also attended to by local medical staff.
While in hospital in KL, Smith and Robinson had their blood counts closely monitored, were in good spirits and were released once medical staff had ascertained that they had recovered.
