Brian Dux ...

A news release from the Guildford Heat basketball club of Surrey made its way to my inbox this morning. The team released some important travel details on the Heat's star player and league MVP, Brian Dux of Buffalo, NY (Canisius) who was injured in a terrible car accident on Nov. 10, 2007. (See Buffalo News story by clicking name above).

A conscious Brian Dux flies back to America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

30 November 10:32am. Guildford Heat Basketball Club confirms this morning that Brian Dux departed England from Farnborough Airport at 10am aboard a specially equipped medical jet aircraft, bound for hospital in his native Buffalo, New York.

Brian has now achieved periods of apparent full consciousness though has not yet recovered the ability to speak or communicate to any large degree. “While his being awake is a tremendous development, Brian and his family have an immensely long road in front of them. These last few days have been a great boost for us all, but people need to realise Brian’s health is still very fragile and his recovery is still at the very beginning,” commented head coach Paul James.

With respect to his repatriation, yesterday morning his family was made aware that a medical aircraft had landed Wednesday in Manchester to return a British patient from Buffalo and the view was taken to seize the opportunity to use this aircraft to return to America rather than let it go back empty.

Doctors at Frimley Park hospital discharged Brian into the care of the air ambulance, which is fitted with extensive medical equipment and manned by two specially trained nurses. Upon arrival in Buffalo he will be taken by ambulance to a local hospital, which is expecting his arrival. He is expected to land at 10pm British time tonight. (4pm EST today)

The cost to the Dux family for this journey will exceed £16,000 and the club has now set this as a first goal in fund raising, which begins with the Brian Dux Benefit Game at Guildford Spectrum 28 December at 7.00pm. The club urges all the people and corporations of Guildford to attend and donate funds to support this man, an All Star on and off the court.

Guildford Heat:
Phil Hardy, Email: phil.hardy@guildfordheat.com
Guildford Heat Basketball Club, Guildford Spectrum, The Parkway,
Guildford, Surrey U1 1UP