“Denmark lost. But life won,” said one of the Danish media in the headlines about the dramatic events of the European Football Championship in Copenhagen. Finland’s future victory over Denmark will be remembered by everyone for one reason, as doctors managed to save the life of one of Denmark’s national team leaders, Christian Eriksen, in an incredible way in the presence of about 16,000 fans at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium.
Content will continue after the ad
Advertising
At the end of the first half, Eriksens went to the right of the ball, which was received after the thrown. At that moment, the Danish midfielder began to sway and after a while was already on the lawn. Joachim Mele was the first to run to Eriksen. The Danish captain Simon Kier also rushed in, and the team members realized that they needed to act quickly, because Eriksen himself was injured, there were no opponents nearby and there was no contact with other footballers.
Kerry checked to see if Eriksen had a clear airway or a swallowed tongue. At that moment, all the footballers were actively gesturing to the doctors of the Danish team, but, guessing bad, the medical team in the stadium prepared all the necessary equipment. Under the influence of the team’s medics, the Danish footballers created a living circle so that TV cameras and fans would not interfere with the provision of assistance and protect Eriksen’s privacy.
“If you know the Danish national team, then they are not just ordinary teammates. They are friends and they reacted accordingly at this moment. they’re just people – just like us all, “Henry Winter, head of football for The Times, told the BBC.
The 29-year-old Milan midfielder was returned to consciousness and later taken to hospital. It is not yet known in detail what could have caused a healthy, athletic young man to become ill. The future of the footballer is still unknown, but several sports medics have already stated that Eriksen will hardly be able to continue his career as a professional athlete so as not to endanger his life.
After Kier, Eriksen was joined by Martin Bosen, a doctor of the Danish national team, who was invited to a press conference after the game to inform the public about the events in Copenhagen Square. “It was clear he wasn’t conscious. When I ran, he lay on his side, he was breathing. I could feel the pulse, but then everything changed and we started resuscitation of the heart and lungs,” Bosens said with tears in his eyes. “The help was given in a very timely manner, and together with all the other doctors we did what we had to do and managed to bring Christian back to life. He could talk to me before he was taken to the hospital.”
In March 2012, during the game of Bolton’s “Wanderers”, English football player Fabry Muamba hit the field. Both on the field and in the ambulance, the medics brought him back to life several times. It later became known that Muamba’s heart had stopped for 78 minutes during all events. The medics saved Muamba’s life, but the footballer interrupted his professional career for safety reasons.
“I remembered the people who helped me and flashed the emotions in me again. It was hard to watch those shots and not know what was going on,” Muamba now tells of the events around Eriksen. “It was scary, but with all due respect to the medics. They did a fantastic job. I was pleasantly surprised how the teammates protected him together. I hope everything will be fine with him. I hope he will get over it all.”
The fate of the match was unknown for more than an hour after the incident, although it was secondary to many, as the whole world was waiting for some news about Eriksen’s health. After learning that everything was fine with Eriksen and that his life was not in danger, the football players of the Danish national team decided to play the game to the end. As Kaspers Hjulmands, the head coach of the Danish national team, explained, the players would not have been able to fall asleep peacefully all night, so it was better to spend the game in the evening than to postpone it to Sunday afternoon.
The Danish national team lost 0: 1 in the game, and the Danes did not take the opportunity to score from the 11-meter penalty kick. Eriksen usually hits the “pendulum”, but this time it had to be done by Pierre Emil Hojbjerg, who hit the Finnish goalkeeper.
“It’s a hard evening. It reminded us all of what’s most important in life – relationships, close people, family, friends. I can’t be more proud of these people who cared for each other. He’s one of my best friends. And I I respect how the footballers in the locker room decided not to play until they were sure that everything was fine with Kristian and he was conscious, “says the head coach of the Danish national team Hjulmands. “It was incredible how they were able to get in and back on the pitch. Honestly, there were several players who were emptied. Emotionally empty and exhausted. It’s a traumatic experience. We talked about feelings for sure and it would be normal for players to say at that point.” no “to continue the game.”
“Some of them weren’t able to keep going, some were ready to keep fighting. We tried to do what we can, but you can’t play at the highest level at the moment. It’s not normal for you to play when a friend is in the hospital with heart problems. I couldn’t play that. We will provide players with psychologist therapy, we will have people who will help, “adds the Danish coach. “Now our thoughts are just about Christian and his family. He is one of our best players, but even better he is as a person.”
