Christian Eriksen has been warned he faces more heart-stopping moments if he continues his footballing career – and teams may not want him playing for them any more after his pacemaker ‘saved his life’ in another mid-match collapse.
The 34-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest during a friendly match against Ukraine yesterday, five years on from a similar incident during a game at Euro 2020. The former Manchester United, Tottenham and Brentford midfielder clutched his chest and fell to the ground away from the ball during the second half in a terrifying echo of that incident.
This morning in a new statement to Danish national newspaper BT, Denmark’s team doctor says Eriksen is ‘fine’ and can be discharged ‘quickly’.
‘I spoke to Christian this morning, and he is doing well. He is with his family and is in good spirits,’ Morten Boesen said.
‘The expectation is that he can be discharged quickly and go home. We are taking good care of the players and staff and are in contact with them on an ongoing basis.’
Denmark’s record appearance-maker had recovered enough to ask to leave the field himself and go directly to his family. He was taken to Odense University Hospital in an ambulance with wife Sabrina Kvist Jensen, with whom he has two children, by his side.
Cardiologist Henning Molgaard has warned today that Eriksen may suffer similar health issues in the future but maintained the defibrillator, which the midfielder had fitted after his previous cardiac arrest in 2021, saved his life.
The Denmark international was fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator and at the time said he ‘was not at all, not in the slightest’ afraid of collapsing again.
He added: ‘Worst case, if it happens again, this thing helps me right away.’
Players and staff shield Denmark’s Christian Eriksen after he collapsed again mid-match yesterday
TV footage shows the former Manchester United star grab at his chest before collapsing
Molgaard told BT: ‘His pacemaker. It has undoubtedly done its job and saved his life.
‘It can definitely happen again. We can see this in many ordinary people who have a small, discreet heart condition who have cardiac arrest again, and then the pacemaker takes effect. So regardless of what is behind it in Christian Eriksen’s case, it can happen again.
‘When you get a shock from the pacemaker, it feels like being kicked by a horse. That’s why you can yell “off”, and often you also have some “oxygen debt” that you have to make up for before you regain consciousness. But it’s a good sign that he goes to the ambulance himself.
‘The spectacular thing is not that it happened. It happens to many people. The spectacular thing is that it happens on a football field.’
Molgaard, however, warns that teams are now unlikely to want to have Eriksen playing for them. ‘The vast majority of professional clubs won’t risk him falling again. Most will probably say “I think you should come up with something else,”‘ he said.
Danish national team doctor Morten Boesen – who was credited with saving Eriksen’s life in 2021 – gave new insight on the moments immediately after this new collapse.
‘He wanted to go himself and also say hello to his family. And the ambulance was down the corner. So he was allowed to do that,’ Boesen said. ‘He was completely monitored.’
Television footage shows Eriksen clutched his chest and fell to the ground away from the ball, midway through the second half of Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine.
Medical staff rushed to his aid as he was shielded from view.
Asked in 2022 if he was afraid of collapsing again, Eriksen said: ‘Not at all, not in the slightest.
‘At first, I was cautious. How much could my heart tolerate now? I wanted to test it. But I have been cleared and monitored and tested as much as possible. I’m not afraid it will happen again.’
Eriksen has a year left on a two-year contract at German club Wolfsburg, who were relegated from the top-tier Bundesliga last month.
A statement from the Danish FA following the incident read: ‘Christian Eriksen is conscious and doing well in the circumstances. The match has been called off.’
The big screen inside the stadium in Odense shared a similar message which said: ‘The match is over. Christian Eriksen is in good condition under the circumstances.’
Fans also started to sing the midfielder’s name and clapped as he received treatment.
Former Denmark star Nicklas Bendtner was covering the game as a pundit on Danish TV and he fought back the tears as he tried to work out what to say when the incident happened.
‘These are horrible pictures, and it completely overshadows the rest of the evening,’ he said.
Eriksen, pictured with wife Sabrina Kvist Jensen, asked to go straight to his family afterwards
‘My thoughts are with the family and the children, and it’s a difficult situation to be in right now.
‘This is the second time it has happened, and as Christian’s friend also… it’s really terrible.’
Several of Eriksen’s Denmark team-mates were understandably distressed and broke down in tears on the pitch.
Players from both sides then accompanied the midfielder to a waiting ambulance while holding up a privacy screen around him in powerful scenes.
They later gathered together in a huddle and went around the stadium to thank those in attendance.
Several individuals and clubs were quick to send their best wishes to Eriksen, including his current side Wolfsburg, who said: ‘We’re thinking of you, Christian.
‘Today’s international match between Denmark and Ukraine had to be abandoned following Christian Eriksen’s collapse.
Eriksen walks out with his Denmark team-mates before yesterday’s match against Ukraine in Odense
Several of the midfielder’s Denmark team-mates appeared distressed after his shocking collapse
‘According to the Danish Football Association, Christian is conscious and doing well given the circumstances.
‘He has been taken to Odense University Hospital, where further examinations will follow.
‘We are in close contact with the Danish Football Association and are following further developments. All the best and a speedy recovery, Christian.’
Manchester United, meanwhile, said: ‘Everybody at Manchester United is encouraged by Denmark’s update on Christian Eriksen following today’s abandoned friendly against Ukraine.
‘The club is sending strength and love to Christian and the Eriksen family as we await further news.’
Another of Eriksen’s former clubs, Tottenham, added: ‘Our thoughts are with Christian Eriksen and his family.
‘Wishing you a full and speedy recovery, Christian. We’re all with you.’
Ashley Young, who played with Eriksen at Inter Milan, also shared a message as he said: ‘I hope you’re OK bro @ChrisEriksen8, sending prayers and best wishes to you and your family.’
