Denmark’s team doctor says Christian Eriksen’s heart had stopped and that “he was gone” before being resuscitated with a defibrillator at the European Championship.
Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 group game against Finland on Saturday and was given lengthy medical treatment before regaining consciousness.
“He was gone,” said team doctor Morten Boesen, who led the work in giving Eriksen treatment on the field.
“And we did cardiac resuscitation. And it was cardiac arrest.”
“How close were we? I don’t know. We got him back after one defib. That’s quite fast.”
Eriksen was in a stable condition at a Copenhagen hospital and had spoken to teammates via video link on Sunday, team officials said.
Boesen said on Sunday it was still unclear what caused the midfielder’s collapse.
“I’m not a cardiologist, so the details about why it happened and further, I will leave to the experts,” he said.
Leading sports cardiologist Professor Sanjay Sharma, who worked with Eriksen during his time at Tottenham, said the 29-year-old footballer may never be allowed to play again.
Sharma bluntly stated Eriksen “died, albeit for a few minutes, but he did die” and believed UK officials would hand down a strict ruling that he must retire.
With Eriksen in the care of the Danish football association, his Italian club side Inter Milan have yet to comment on his future.
“Clearly something went terribly wrong,” Prof Sharma told the PA news agency.
“But they managed to get him back, the question is what happened? And why did it happen?
“This guy had normal tests all the way up to 2019 so how do you explain this cardiac arrest?
“The fact he’s stable and awake, his outlook is going to be very good.
“I don’t know whether he’ll ever play football again.
“Without putting it too bluntly, he died today, albeit for a few minutes, but he did die and would the medical professional allow him to die again?
“The answer is no.”
Boesen had said Eriksen may not have survived had the game not been played at a major tournament with top-class medical equipment at hand.
“That was completely decisive, I think,” Boesen said.
“The time from when it happens to when he receives help is the critical factor, and that time was short. That was decisive.”
Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said when he spoke to Eriksen, the Inter Milan midfielder was more concerned about his teammates’ well-being than his own.
“He said, ‘I don’t remember much but I’m more concerned about you guys. How are you doing?’” Hjulmand said.
“That’s typical Christian. It was good to see him smile.”
The Danish players and team staff were being given crisis management assistance as they process the incident.
Eriksen fell face-forward to the ground late in the first half and his teammates formed a protective circle around him while the medics gave him treatment.
The game was suspended for about 90 minutes before resuming. Finland then won 1-0 after scoring in the second half.
Denmark cancelled a planned training session on Sunday but Hjulmand said they would try to go back to their normal routines on Monday.
He insisted the players are determined to finish the tournament, with Denmark playing Belgium next in Group B on Thursday.
The World Observer Media produces a daily online newspaper, a daily Arabic online newspaper and a monthly printed Arabic/English magazine and a weekly printed Arabic/English newspaper.
The World Observer Media’s mission is to entertain and educate all generation from the Ethnic Communities in Australia, who are interested in local, national and foreign information. 
