Stephen Warnock says he hid seizures from Liverpool
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock says he hid several epileptic seizures during his adolescence for fear of being released by the club. He says his first seizure left him unconscious before he was taken to hospital, according to Punch, which cited comments broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live.
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has revealed that he hid several epileptic seizures from the club as a teenager, fearing he would be released from its academy. “I was terrified to tell Liverpool because I was worried I would be released,” said the former footballer, now a BBC Radio 5 Live pundit, while responding on Sunday to an interview with Hull City midfielder Matt Crooks, who also has epilepsy, according to Punch.
Warnock said his first seizure occurred at school and left him unconscious before he woke up in hospital. After another seizure at home, he underwent brain scans to try to determine the cause. He said the episodes lasted about three years and that he had not experienced another since the age of 14.
Warnock, 44, played 67 matches for Liverpool and made 541 professional appearances before retiring in 2018. He also played for Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Leeds United. Epilepsy affects about one in 100 people in the United Kingdom, according to data cited by Punch.
