KGUN 9News

Actions

Hockey player Cunningham loses part of leg

Posted at 10:03 AM, Jan 05, 2017
and last updated 2017-01-06 16:53:25-05

Former Tucson Roadrunners hockey player Craig Cunningham lost part of his leg following a medical procedure, ESPN reports.

Doctors conducted the partial amputation Dec. 24 in order to prevent a possible spread of infection that could complicate his recovery.

Cunningham collapsed on the icebeforea game Nov. 19. Medical personnel performed chest compressions on him before transporting him to the hospital.

The 26-year-old required 85 minutes of CPR.

Doctors from Banner-UMC and Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital performed a series of innovative medical procedures to help save Cunningham and he was released from the hospital in late December.

"Every time I think about how I can't play anymore, I just think back to [the fact that] I'm lucky I'm not 10 feet under," Cunningham told ESPN Monday evening from Banner-University Medical Center. "If I have to sacrifice playing hockey to be alive -- and it's a tough pill to swallow for sure, it's been my whole life since I was 4 years old -- it's time for me to move on."