‘No drugs, alcohol’: Nadine slams Derick Hougaard fight, overdose

Derick Hougaard’s girlfriend, Nadine has clapped back at allegations the former Springboks and Blue Bulls player overdosed on alcohol or drugs or that they argued the night before he was discovered unconscious.

The Afrikaans singer shared her version of events with Rapport this week, despite allegations of “foul play” from “friends” of the retired rugby player. Over the weekend, a toxicology report revealed high levels of toxins in Derick’s blood.

According to his own admission, Derick spent time in rehabilitation for alcohol and sleeping pill addiction. He also admitted to suffering from depression.

ALSO READ: A fighter! Derick Hougaard OFF the ventilator, breathing on his own

NADINE CLAPS BACK: ‘NO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL INVOLVED’

On Saturday, 10 June, the retired rugby player was found unresponsive in his Pretoria home by his girlfriend, Nadine. Derick – diagnosed with respiratory pneumonia – was in a coma in the Steve Biko Academic Hospital for almost two weeks.

A mystery bottle – allegedly containing a cough syrup – was also found in Derick’s possession, claims Rapport. Derrick has since awakened from a coma and resumed breathing without a ventilator.

ALSO READ: Poisoned? Derick Hougaard to reveal who gave him ‘toxic’ meds

Speaking to the publication, Nadine dismissed claims Derick had overdosed on substances.

She said: “Derick had no alcohol or drugs in his blood. He also had no sign of sleeping pills in his system.

According to Nadine, Derick denied he had used pain medication. She also insisted he had been clean after recently booking himself into rehab.

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She continued: “Derick and I are still trying to figure out what happened because the last thing I would ever want is for him to ever go through something like this again. Because, it’s a fear”.

NOT SUICIDAL EITHER

Nadine also dismissed rumours she had an argument with Derick on the night before he was discovered.

ALSO READ: Derick Hougaard and Nadine: Lovers or friends? [photos]

She said: “I talked to Derick the night before he went to sleep. Derrick was acting completely normal. I suspected no foul play”.

Of claims he wanted to take his own life, Nadine said: “He frowned as if he was shocked that I was asking him that.”

DERICK HOUGAARD TOXICOLOGY REPORT, MYSTERY ‘COUGH SYRUP’

According to Netwerk24, a toxicology report revealed that Derick had “elevated levels” of toxin found in his bloodstream. This level has since dropped over time.

A half-bottle of medication without a label – reportedly cough syrup –  was also found in his Pretoria East home.

ALSO READ: Why is Derick Hougaard in a govt hospital? Nadine explains…

“Nadine was worried someone gave him cough medicine, which was toxic to him,” a source told the publication of the incident.

The bottle has been sent to laboratories for testing.