Richard Zednik returns to Florida

Last Updated: Saturday, February 16, 2008 | 10:50 AM ET

CBC Sports

Less than a week after suffering a serious neck gash, Panthers forward Richard Zednik was released from a Buffalo hospital and returned home to Florida.

Zednik flew to Florida on Friday following his release the previous day, according to officials at Buffalo General Hospital.

Richard Zednik, middle, is helped to the bench during last Sunday's game by Jassen Cullimore (22) while a trainer tends to his harrowing wound.
(John Hickey/Associated Press)

Zednik almost had his carotid artery severed and lost five pints of blood in a game against the Sabres last Sunday.

Zednik's neck was cut open in the third period when teammate Olli Jokinen was upended and his right skate went into Zednik's path.

The 32-year-old forward said he barely felt the skate slice into his carotid artery, but with blood gushing he knew there was a serious problem.

"I was like, whoa. I knew I had to get to the bench."

Zednik was taken to an ambulance, and Sabres team doctor Leslie Bisson placed pressure on his neck to help slow the bleeding as they headed to the hospital.

"I remember everything," Zednik told The Buffalo News. "I remember the doctor holding my neck and telling him, 'Don't push so hard. I can't breathe.' I talked to my trainer [Dave Zenobi]. I remember them saying, 'OK, go to surgery.' "

In an emergency procedure, Buffalo General Hospital vascular surgeon Sonya Noor repaired the artery, which had been cut open but not completely severed.

"One week happened so much. Everything just went so well," Zednik said. "You look at it like that, and I was lucky. They saved my life. After surgery, they were amazing."

Zednik was able to spend Valentine's Day with his wife, Jessica, after he was released from Buffalo General Thursday evening.

Jessica Zednik had slept little last Saturday night as she tended to the couple's four-year-old daughter, Ella, who spent Sunday in Delray Medical Center in South Florida battling a high fever.

Jessica Zednik was home for only 10 minutes when injured Panthers forward Jozef Stumpel, a friend who missed the team's road trip, called regarding her husband's injury.

"Life is so fragile, and you don't own it," she told the newspaper. "You never know and take everything for granted. Not anymore, believe me. It's a reality check."