MALACCA: Parents of Melaka United reserve goalkeeper Marco Stefan Petrovski, who was struck by lightning, have flown from Portugal and Australia to be by his side.
His father, Marjan Petrovski, arrived at the hospital from Australia at 9.40pm and immediately went to the intensive care unit ward to see his son on Wednesday.
His son is currently sedated on the ventilator in the intensive care unit.
Marjan spent an hour with his son, including enquiring on his son's condition with medical personnel and Melaka United representatives.
Later when met at the lobby, a despondent-looking Marjan said that he did not wish to speak to the press.
"I hope you understand my wish not to say anything at the moment. I will speak when the time comes."
His mother, Marie Lupang, who arrived from Portugal, also visited him at the hospital past midnight.
Meanwhile, Melaka United Football Association deputy president Datuk Yusof Mahadi said he was glad and relieved that Stephen's parents managed to travel to Malacca to be by their son's side at the hospital.
"Their presence would help in his recovery.
"The sound of their voice would give him strength to fight and recover," said Yusof.
Yusof said doctors had deliberately sedated Stefan to allow his body and brain to recover.
"Doctors will check on his progress after 48 hours which will end this evening (Thursday) to determine Stefan's condition," he added.
Yusof said based on tests and computed tomography scan, Stefan did not suffer any brain injury while his vital organs were functioning.
On the incident, Yusof said that a greater care must be taken during training sessions on the field.
"We take weather for granted at times when there's no storm, but the incident has taught us that we need to be aware and assess the situation."
He said that during training sessions, it was necessary for a medical personnel to be on hand to give emergency aid quickly if needed.
"It was fortunate for Stefan that there was a physiotherapist on hand to immediately perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the scene.
"If he was not there, things could have been worse."
On Tuesday, Stefan was struck by lightning while he was training with the team.
The Australian/ Serbian naturalised player from Sabah was conducting training drills with his teammates at Padang Sepuluh in Krubong here when the incident happened.
He was one of the 28 players, including defender Muhammad Afiq Azuan, 21, who were at field when lightning struck during heavy downpour.
Both Stefan and Afiq were rushed to the Malacca Hospital for treatment but Afiq was discharged on Wednesday.