RPY_SAVE_01

Sam Owen, 28, from Staining, near Blackpool, Lancashire whose life was saved by brain surgery after being hit in the head by a hockey ball. See Ross Parry copy RPYSAVE : An injured sportsman who nearly died after being hit with a hockey ball was saved after having the same operation that was performed on motor racing star Michael Schumacher. Super-fit Sam Owens, 28, was close to death after the offending ball caused a massive bleed on the brain. After being hit on the head hard Sam felt a sharp pain took himself out of the match with a bleeding ear, but he was fully conscious and his team mates even asked him if he wanted to to come back on for the second half.