Christian Eriksen is in stable condition after suffering what doctors said was cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Euro 2020 opening match on Saturday.
The Danish footballer is awake in hospital and has “sent his regards to his teammates” while remaining under questioning after his collapse in Copenhagen.
A cardiac arrest is when the heart stops completely, rendering the person unconscious, while a heart attack is a condition that slows down blood circulation, so the patient is likely awake.
Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen told a news conference that tests on the player “so far look good”, adding that Eriksen “was gone” before resuscitation efforts began.
Mr. Boesen added, “How close did we get? I don’t know. We got it back after defibrillation, so that’s pretty quick.”
“We have no explanation why it happened. The details of what happened I am not quite sure because I am not a cardiologist, I leave that to the experts. I did not see it live, only on the screens afterwards.”
Earlier on Sunday, the Danish FA said in a tweet that the 29-year-old had been in contact with the team on Sunday, as he continues to recover from the incident in Copenhagen.
“This morning we spoke with Christian eriksen, who has sent his regards to his companions, “he said.” His condition is stable and he continues to be hospitalized for further examination, “he added.
DenmarkPlayers and staff have “received crisis assistance and will continue to be together after yesterday’s incident,” the statement added, and some of Eriksen’s teammates had made themselves cry as they formed a wall around him to protect him from the cameras while receiving treatment on the court.
“We would like to thank all the warm greetings to Christian Eriksen on behalf of the fans, players, the royal families of Denmark and England, international associations, clubs, etc.,” the statement said.
Eriksen was assisted by medics after English referee Anthony Taylor quickly led them onto the pitch, while Denmark’s captain Simon Kjaer He did what has been hailed as a life-saving intervention by securing his neck, clearing his airway, and beginning CPR.
Kjaer then led the Danish players to form the ring around their teammate and comforted Eriksen’s teammate, who seemed distraught as she walked onto the field.
Inter Milan midfielder Eriksen, who spent seven years in English football with Tottenham, has been inundated with messages of support since his collapse, including footballers past and present, pundits, politicians and royals.
Boris johnson what he said to have been “shocked” by what happened.
“He is very grateful for the quick-thinking actions of the officials,” the prime minister’s spokesman said. “The response from players and fans at the stadium was exemplary. It showed the sport at its best.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also tweeted to praise the referee and the medical team.
Prince william, who is also president of the FA, added: “Encouraging news about Christian Eriksen, we are all thinking about him and his family.”
Also among those who sent their good wishes was former Arsenal and Birmingham player Fabrice Muamba, whose heart stopped for over an hour while playing for Bolton against Spurs in 2012.
Dr. Jonathan Tobin, the Bolton club doctor at the time, told Sky News: “Even managing to start CPR under so much pressure … I’m not underestimating when I said I could barely breathe when I started treating Fabrice on the ground. of game.
“After a minute or two, I was on the beat, everything was fine, but that first minute was difficult. All I could hear was my own heart beating in my head.”
“So congratulations on starting CPR and congratulations on letting your training take over,” he said of those who treated Eriksen.
Muamba had hoped to resume his career, but retired from professional soccer five months later on medical advice, and doctors are concerned that Eriksen will also have a difficult time playing again.
Sanjay Sharma, a professor of sports cardiology at St George’s University in London, who worked with Eriksen in Tottenham during his time in North London, said: “The good news is that he will live, the bad news is that he was coming to the end. of your career, would you play another professional soccer game? I can’t say that.
“In the UK I would not play. We would be very strict about it.”
He added: “Without being too frank, he died today, even for a few minutes, but he did die and would the medical professional allow him to die again? The answer is no.”
Acting physician Piero Volpi told The Associated Press that now was not the time for such evaluations.
“Right now, the important thing is that he recovers,” added Dr. Volpi, who also confirmed that Eriksen had never contracted COVID-19. He also had to receive a vaccination.
Some Denmark players chose not to play anymore, coach Kasper Hjulmand said after the Group B match, which Finland won 1-0 with a goal from Joel Pohjanpalo in the 59th minute.
Eriksen was the focus of more good wishes at Wembley in London on Sunday afternoon as England began their Euro 2020 campaign against Croatia.
England captain Harry Kane is a former teammate of Eriksen during his time at Tottenham.