Complex sentence: On the evening of the fight Byrne was considered to be close to death, but over the course of the following two days he seemed to be recovering, and was sufficiently conscious to thank his friends for their ministrations.
Split into simpler sentences: On the evening of the fight, Byrne was considered to be close to death. During the following two days he seemed to be recovering, and was sufficiently conscious to thank his friends for their ministrations.