PAUL MULLIN has recounted the chilling moment in which he punctured his lung against Manchester United.
The Wrexham striker was in pre-season action last month as his side took on a youthful Red Devils squad in San Diego.
Early on in the match, Mullin was inadvertently clattered by United stopper Nathan Bishop.
He had to take oxygen as he left the pitch, and was subsequently unable to fly home with his team-mates as he required more care in hospital.
In a first person piece for The Athletic, the 28-year-old has lifted the lid on his awful ordeal.
He wrote: “I was trying to breathe in but nothing was happening. I couldn’t get air into my lungs.
“That’s when I knew it was bad. In that struggle for breath, with my lips turning blue, I accepted that this could be it for me. That’s how it felt. I couldn’t breathe properly for a few minutes.
“I was thinking about my little boy, Albi. I hate being away from him and my partner Mollie for too long but I had told myself it was only two weeks and that I’d be back home soon. It ended up being much longer, but I’m so thankful it wasn’t worse.
“I remember, a few seconds earlier, getting my head to the ball and then going down.
“For someone like me who will do that kind of thing again and again, being winded is something I’m used to. It usually lasts around 10 seconds and is never nice. Only this time I couldn’t shake it.”
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Mullin revealed that in addition to puncturing his lung, he also fractured four ribs.
Following his side’s 3-1 win, Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson was furious at Bishop’s role in the incident.
Mullin spent 13 hours on oxygen before being discharged from hospital, and subsequently had to remain in the States until being deemed fit to travel.
On the care he received from Wrexham’s Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, he continued: “Rob, Ryan and everyone at the club have looked after me amazingly. The owners even sent a PlayStation to the Long Beach apartment where we were staying. It helped pass the time.
“Ryan offered to fly my entire family out and Rob said I could stay with him in his Los Angeles home. I’m sure he has the room, but I was happy to stay out of the way.
“So they sorted an apartment for us instead. Rob visited me there before heading to Wales for our opening game of the season against MK Dons.”
Mullin remained in California as Wrexham fell to a 5-3 opening day defeat to MK Dons.
But he has now finally been able to fly home.
Bishop, meanwhile, has since left Man United.
The 23-year-old penned a three-year deal with Sunderland earlier this month.
He has been left on the bench for the Black Cats’ first two Championship matches of the campaign, but started their League Cup first round clash against Crewe.
