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- Horrifying scenes unfolded at the Euros on Saturday as Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field.
- Medics were forced to use resuscitative measures such as chest compressions and defibrillation.
- Denmark’s team doctor has confirmed that Eriksen’s heart had stopped: “He was gone.”
Morten Boesen, the team doctor for the Denmark men’s football team, has confirmed 29-year-old midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch and that he was “gone” before being resuscitated by a defibrillator.
“When I got to him he was on his side, he was breathing, I could feel a pulse, but suddenly that changed and we started to give him CPR,” Boesen said.
“He was gone. We did cardiac resuscitation, it was a cardiac arrest. How close were we to losing him [permanently]? I don’t know, but we got him back after one [defibrillation] so that’s quite fast.”
Eriksen, who won the Serie A title with Italian club Inter Milan this season, collapsed on the pitch during the 43rd minute of Denmark’s opening group stage match against Finland. The play was halted immediately as Eriksen was attended to by medical professionals for approximately 10 minutes. Following the use of chest compressions and defibrillation, Eriksen was resuscitated and was conscious when taken off the pitch. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he currently remains, for further tests. At this time, Eriksen’s condition is stable.
“His condition is stable and he continues to be hospitalized for further examination,” a Sunday morning statement from the Danish FA said.
The match between Denmark and Finland was suspended for the duration of the medical emergency but was later resumed, with Finland pulling out a 1-0 victory. Denmark will resume their Euro 2020 run on Thursday when they take on Belgium.