RYAN MASON suffered a fractured skull after a horrendous clash of heads with Gary Cahill.
The Hull midfielder underwent emergency neuro surgery at St Mary’s Hospital following the incident in the defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Mason clashed heads with the Chelsea defender 13 minutes into the match.
The 25-year-old was carried off on a stretcher wearing an oxygen mask and in a neck brace after receiving eight minutes of treatment. He was rushed to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, one of London’s top acute trauma centres.
Hull confirmed the midfielder had suffered a fractured skull via their website but said he is in a stable condition.
Hull City statement on Mason
The Club can confirm that Ryan Mason sustained a skull fracture in our fixture at Chelsea this afternoon.
He was taken to St Mary’s Hospital where he has undergone surgery.
Ryan is in a stable condition and is expected to remain in hospital for the next few days.
Everyone at the Club would like to express their sincere thanks for the excellent and swift care given to Ryan by both the Accident and Emergency department and Neurosurgery Unit at St Mary’s Hospital.
A further update will be issued tomorrow.
It specialises in dealing with serious conditions sustained via an accident, sport or violence.
Tigers manager Marco Silva confirmed he had been taken to hospital.
But Cahill, who was involved in the collision, said: “I tried to get on the end of the cross.
“We smashed heads. I wish him all the very best.”
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte added: “Everyone at Chelsea wants to wish Ryan Mason the best because it was a bad accident. We hope to see him on the pitch very soon.”
St Mary's Hospital
The Paddington hospital is known for state of the art trauma care.
In 2014 the hospital’s trauma unit was ranked as the best in England.
When it was opened in 2010 the hospital had a 16-bed major trauma ward as well as a theatre that has black box technology.
The centre caters for the whole of north-west London and initially aimed to treat 500 patients per year.
A stand out feature in theatre at the hospital is that there multiple cameras and screens – meaning the surgical team has a 360 degree view of everything that is happening.
Whilst Hull boss, Marco Silva said: “I imagine in this moment that he will stay in the hospital.
“I hope nothing special, nothing serious, but we’ll see.
“I don’t know [if he is awake].
“The doctor told me he was in the hospital and we await news.”
Mason collapsed straight to the floor after his head clashed with Cahill whilst the latter also received treatment.
The impact seemed to have been on Mason’s temple as referee Neil Swarbrick signalled doctors onto the pitch.
This led to the former Tottenham midfielder receiving medical attention from both clubs before being placed in a neck brace and also being given an oxygen mask.
Mason was eventually eased onto a stretcher, but even then medics delayed carrying him off the pitch to ensure there was no threat to his safety.
Since the match at Stamford Bridge past and present footballers have shown their support towards Mason on social media, including rugby player Danny Cipriani and boxer Callum Smith.
Not our best game, but important 3 points!! I want to wish @RyanMason the very best!!
#cfcpic.twitter.com/0LV8JWRnCy
— Thibaut Courtois (@thibautcourtois) January 22, 2017
Great result for us. Always positive.
Best wishes to Ryan Mason, as a player never nice to see things like that— Nathaniel Chalobah (@chalobah) January 22, 2017
Mason moved to Hull from Tottenham last summer after breaking into the Spurs first-team picture under Mauricio Pochettino.
The midfielder had struggled to dislodge Spurs’ other star men in the side, though and was shipped out to the Yorkshire side for a club-record £13m.
And after spending last season fighting for the title at White Hart Lane, he has this season been involved in a dogged relegation fight with the Tigers.
Back in September, footage emerged on Instagram of Mason and fellow signing Will Keane singing hilarious initiation songs after joining the club.
After the Chelsea defeat, Hull have accrued 16 points from 22 games with just four wins and four draws this term.
Thoughts are with Ryan mason and his family, hope he pulls through
— brad smith (@bradsmith_94) January 22, 2017
Thoughts with Ryan Mason tonight. Hope he pulls through
x
— Callum Smith (@CallumSmith23) January 22, 2017
x
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snLPRHUUoHc&w=560&h=315]
Just got the updates about @RyanMason.. sad to hear, hope you will recover fast !!! All our prayers and thoughts are for you tonight
— Michy Batshuayi (@mbatshuayi) January 22, 2017
Hope Ryan mason is ok. Looked a bad one
— Darren Bent (@DarrenBent) January 22, 2017
Goals from Diego Costa and Cahill moved the Blues eight points clear at the top in a tricky 2-0 victory.
Spaniard Costa received a warm reception from fans, despite his interest in a move to the Chinese Super League.