Troubled New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder was in an induced coma with a fractured skull and serious internal injuries on Thursday after being severely beaten as he left a bar in the South Island city of Christchurch, police said. The 28-year-old was in a critical condition in hospital, and his family were at his bedside. The attack came just days before the talented batsman was to take up a lucrative Indian Premier League contract.
Ryder has a history of disciplinary lapses and alcohol-related incidents, but although he had been drinking before the early morning attack police said alcohol was not a factor. Detective senior sergeant Brian Archer said there was an altercation involving Ryder and ‘two or three’ people when he stepped outside the bar.
Ryder then crossed the road to a nearby outlet where he was attacked by one of the people from the initial confrontation. ‘He is in an induced coma,’ Archer said.
Ryder has a history of disciplinary lapses and alcohol-related incidents, but although he had been drinking before the early morning attack police said alcohol was not a factor. Detective senior sergeant Brian Archer said there was an altercation involving Ryder and ‘two or three’ people when he stepped outside the bar.
Ryder then crossed the road to a nearby outlet where he was attacked by one of the people from the initial confrontation. ‘He is in an induced coma,’ Archer said.