Olympian Brian Sta Maria waits days in emergency for hospital bed
The former hockey international has been at UMMC since Sunday after a fall at home, with his wife increasingly worried about his condition and care.
Malaysian hockey legend Brian Sta Maria, who competed for his country at the 1972 Munich Olympics and the 1975 World Cup, has been struggling for over a day in the emergency unit of Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). The 77-year-old former Olympian and World Cupper fell at his home in Petaling Jaya on Saturday and has since been unable to move without assistance.
His wife, Elaine Lam, explained to FMT that his condition has worsened, and he can no longer get up to use the toilet. The family brought him to UMMC, which is near their residence, after a general practitioner could not alleviate his pain. However, they were informed that the hospital had no beds available for him, so he remained in the emergency unit.
Staff eventually placed him on a bed out of concern for a potential fall. Elaine suspects that minor bleeding in his brain, possibly exacerbated by his Parkinson's disease and heart condition, may have contributed to the fall. Sta Maria receives treatment for his health issues at the Universiti Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC), UMMC's private wing, and his family felt Serdang, where he also receives heart treatment, was too far away.
Despite some other patients remaining in wheelchairs due to a lack of beds, Elaine expressed empathy for them. National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) officials visited Elaine yesterday, providing her with a wheelchair and financial assistance. While the wheelchair is intended for Sta Maria's use post-discharge, Elaine remains concerned about his immediate situation.
Sta Maria's case highlights the ongoing calls from former national athletes for greater support when they face health issues later in life. Former Asian track queen M Rajamani has previously urged the government to offer fast-track assistance for retired athletes at public hospitals, arguing that those who brought pride to the nation should receive some privileges during their later years.
While Elaine acknowledges the financial and medical aid received from Yakeb, she emphasizes that the government must do more to prevent neglecting its former sports heroes. For Elaine, this situation is about ensuring Brian receives the care he desperately needs.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
