Cagliari striker Yael Trepy is in intensive care after nearly drowning in a swimming pool during a day off from training ahead of the new Serie A season.
The 20-year-old footballer was airlifted to the Santissima Annunziata hospital in Sassari, where doctors placed him into a medically induced coma to assist his treatment.
Details of the accident were reported by Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. Trepy was spending a rest day at a pool when he moved into a deeper section of the basin. Because he is not a proficient swimmer, the sudden loss of footing caused him to struggle and begin drowning.
Trepy lost consciousness in the water, but the prompt response of eyewitnesses who pulled him out saved his life before he was quickly transported to hospital by helicopter.
Hospital treatment and medical condition
Medical examinations at the hospital in Sassari revealed that a large amount of water had entered the player's lungs, causing severe difficulty with his breathing. Doctors subsequently chose to place the 20-year-old into a medically induced coma to spare him suffering and allow medical treatment to begin.
Club statement and support
Cagliari Calcio, based in Sardinia, issued an official statement on its website confirming that Trepy was being treated in the intensive care unit at the Santissima Annunziata hospital. The club stated that it remains in constant contact with the medical facility and Trepy's family, and is closely monitoring his health.
The club also requested respect for the player's privacy, promising to share further updates as soon as new information becomes available.
In addition to the official release, Cagliari shared a post on social media offering support to the 20-year-old, telling him to stay strong and declaring that everyone at the club was with him in his fight. Other Italian clubs, including Napoli, Lecce, and Pescara, also sent public messages of support.
First-team debut and Coppa Italia match
Trepy progressed through the youth ranks at Cagliari before making his debut for the senior team last season. The forward made an immediate impression in his first senior appearance in January 2026, scoring an equalising goal against Cremonese.
He had continued to feature in Cagliari's first-team plans leading into the new campaign. On Friday, August 14, just days before the pool incident, the 20-year-old was named in the starting lineup for Cagliari's first-round Coppa Italia fixture against Arezzo.
