New Zealand's top amateur golfer Brad Iles is fighting for his life in hospital in the United States after suffered serious head injuries in an accident.
His coach, Mal Tongue, of Wellington, yesterday said Iles was in a South Carolina hospital after being involved in an accident with a golf cart.
"He's fractured his skull. He's in an induced coma," he said.
"They operated on him to relieve a blood clot from his brain."
Tongue said hospital staff had told him that the injuries were a case of life and death for the 20-year-old Iles.
"He nearly died, it was very much touch and go. He is in a critical but stable condition."
Tongue said Iles' parents and a sister had flown from New Zealand to the US to be with him.
Details of the accident were sketchy, but Tongue understood it did not occur on a golf course.
"It was one of these compounds where you drive from the accommodation to the golf course in a cart. I'm not sure what's actually happened, but it wasn't on the course."
Iles had been in the US contesting a series of tournaments and on Monday had finished equal ninth in the Players' Amateur in South Carolina.
Tongue said Iles' fitness could stand him in good stead.
"They've done scans and said he is very strong. It's a good job he's fit.
"It's been a nightmare. He's just the greatest kid in the world. He's super special."
- NZPA
Golf: Iles fighting for life after cart accident
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