The Danish Christian Eriksen, hospitalized after a cardiac arrest when he entered the competition for the Euro football on Saturday, will have a defibrillator implanted to regulate his heart rate, his federation announced Thursday a few hours from a tribute to the player during Denmark-Belgium.
• Read also: Euro: Eriksen reassuring about his state of health
• Read also: How to explain a cardiac arrest in a high level athlete?
The Danish federation gave no indication of the consequences for the rest of the career of the 29-year-old Inter Milan player, calling for “leave in peace” him and his family.
AFP
If this sounds like bad news, footballers like Dutchman Daley Blind have been able to resume their careers after being fitted with pacemakers.
However, according to cardiologist Jérémy Descoux, the chances for the player are low. “We have here a sudden death recovered (…) in general, it is a contraindication to the pursuit of sporting activity in competition, especially since it occurs in a context of sporting activity. “, He explains to AFP.
Saturday, towards the end of the first period of the Denmark-Finland meeting, Eriksen had collapsed suddenly on the pitch, his eyes rolled back.
Saved after a cardiac massage and the use of a defibrillator, he had regained consciousness after long minutes of anguish before being hospitalized.
Tuesday morning, the player posted a photo of him, his face tired but smiling, explaining that he was going “well under the circumstances”. But the Danish staff remained stingy with details of his state of health.
“After the various examinations of the heart undergone by Christian, it was decided that he should wear a defibrillator”, known by the acronym of DAI (automatic implantable defibrillator), finally said Thursday the Danish federation in a statement.
This device, an improved variant of a pacemaker, “is necessary after a heart attack due to disturbances in the rhythm” of the heart, specifies the DBU.
AFP
The decision, taken by the cardiologist of the large Danish hospital where Eriksen is located since Saturday, “was accepted” by the midfielder and “confirmed by national and international specialists who recommend the same treatment,” said the federation.
Like a conventional pacemaker, the device sends electrical impulses when the heart rate is too slow, in order to avoid discomfort. In addition to this function, it can also deal with too fast pace.
The announcement of this medical intervention comes a few hours before the kick-off of the Denmark-Belgium match in Copenhagen (6 p.m.), during which a tribute from the public to the Danish number 10 is scheduled in the 10th minute.
The Inter Milan midfielder will be able to hear it: the Rigshospitalet where he has been for five days is barely one kilometer as the crow flies from “Parken”, the Danish national stadium in Copenhagen.
AFP
The German doctor who treated Eriksen on the lawn revealed in a media interview with the Funke Group that Eriksen had regained consciousness after using an emergency defibrillator.
“Yes, I’m back with you,” Eriksen replied, then: “Damn, I’m only 29”.
At the height of the emotion aroused by his serious discomfort live Saturday at the end of the day, testimonies of support poured in from all over the world to the Danish star.
After the dramatic scenes that have traumatized the whole country and beyond, the second Euro meeting for the Danes will go far beyond the sports field, even if a defeat would seriously compromise their chances of qualification.
Whatever, for the supporters present Thursday in a fanzone of Copenhagen, “in the end, the best thing is that Eriksen is well”, testifies to AFP Rene Dyhrberg.
“It will be very emotional to return to Parken, we expect to have incredible support from our supporters and from the whole country,” said the Danish coach.
A few hours away from meeting the Red Devils, Simon Kjaer paid tribute to his teammate.
“We will enter the field against Belgium with Christian in our hearts and our thoughts (…) We will play for Christian, and as always for all of Denmark,” wrote the Danish captain on Twitter.
The Belgians plan to clear the ball in touch for the tribute, explained Romelu Lukaku, Eriksen’s teammate at Inter and who has been in contact with him.
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