Career
After surviving a horrific sports accident in 1979, he is mentally handicapped. He played all six matches and scored 28 goals. Deckarm"s career abruptly ended on March 30, 1979 during a Eurocup match versus the Hungarian side Tatabanya.
Deckarm lost consciousness immediately, resulting in his head smashing against the ground (not a modern rebounding surface, but rather concrete covered by a very thin Polyvinyl chloride layer).
He suffered severe head trauma and was in a coma for 131 days. When he woke up, he was basically locked into his own body, unable to move a limb.
(Though he was not responsible for the accident and suffered less serious injuries, Pánovics decided to end his career) Fighting bouts of deep depression, Deckarm eventually fought his way back into life. He remained mentally handicapped, but regained his mobility and is capable of doing short interviews.
He currently lives in his native Saarbrücken in a home for handicapped people.
Over the years, he developed a friendship with Pánovics who regularly visits him and his family in Germany. In 2004 the two received the award of the International Fair Play Committee.