11 July 2023 , 11:10
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Former All Black Carl Hayman has been left "seriously injured" following a cycling accident in New Zealand.
The 43-year-old fell off his bike on Tuesday morning whilst cycling in Mangawhai Heads in New Zealand's Northland region and was rushed to the Whangārei Hospital, where he arrived in a 'serious condition'.
The pilot driving the rescue helicopter told New Zealand outlet Stuff he found the former Newcastle and Toulon prop "confused after falling off his bike". A family member has confirmed that Hayman broke his collarbone but is "recovering well"
Hayman won 46 caps for the All Blacks having made his debut in 2001 against Samoa. The forward last played for New Zealand in 2007 when he chose to leave his homeland, moving to Newcastle, where he spent three years before he moved to the Top 14.
The All Black won the Heineken Cup alongside Jonny WilkinsonThe All Black was one of a number of former internationals who moved to Toulon, who were heavily bankrolled and signed the likes of Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Giteau. With the French club he won the Heineken Cup in 2013, starting the final as they beat Clermont in Dublin, later going on to win the tournament two more times.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
He retired in 2015 but In 2021 was told he had early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Hayman previously told the Daily Mail about his condition: "The scary thing for me is if I look back on the last couple of years, I can feel it [dementia] getting a grip and affecting me more and more.
"We just don't know what the future is going to look like so we try to stay in the now and not worry too much. Some days it turns to custard and it's pretty c***."
Hayman added on his day to day struggles: "It's sleep deprivation, sleep disorder and constant headaches - my head is full of pressure. I'll go into the kitchen and not know why I was going in there. Sometimes I drive places, go straight past the turn off, and then have to retrace my steps.
"Anxiety and depression have been other problems. I've never been an anxious person. I've always been pretty chilled and happy go lucky. "I've now found myself struggling with mental illness and unable to stay focused on tasks."