Christian Eriksen is currently conscious after experiencing another incident of collapsing during a friendly match for Denmark against Ukraine.
The incident occurred in the 65th minute when Eriksen clutched his chest and fell to the ground, prompting medical personnel to rush to his assistance.
Christian Eriksen – latest: Denmark star in hospital after collapsing in match against Ukraine
The 34-year-old momentarily lost consciousness but quickly regained awareness and was able to walk off the pitch with assistance. He is now set to undergo additional examinations in the hospital.
The match, which Denmark was leading 2-1 thanks to goals from Patrick Dorgu and Joakim Maelhe, was ultimately abandoned in the 79th minute.
This is not the first scare for Eriksen; he previously suffered a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 while playing for Denmark against Finland.
“Christian Eriksen is conscious and doing well under the circumstances,” the Danish national team confirmed on its official X account.
After the match was halted, players and staff from both teams gathered in solidarity, while fans chanted Eriksen’s name in support.
Denmark’s doctor, Morten Boesen, stated, “Christian is doing well and left the pitch by himself. It seems the pacemaker functioned as intended.”
“He briefly lost consciousness but quickly regained it, and we were able to communicate with him soon after.”
“He will undergo further tests at the hospital to determine the reason behind the incident. We maintain constant communication with him and the hospital staff.”
“Christian is doing well and has requested that I send his regards to all players and let them know that he is okay.”
Ukraine’s head coach, Andrea Maldera, refrained from taking questions at his press conference, showing solidarity towards Eriksen, his family, and the Danish team and fans. “Out of respect for him, it would not be appropriate to discuss football right now,” he remarked.
The club Eriksen currently plays for, Wolfsburg, issued a statement saying, “We are thinking of you, Christian. We are closely following the developments along with the Danish Football Association. Wishing you a speedy recovery.”
Christian Eriksen returned to action just eight months after the harrowing incident in 2020 (PA Wire)
This incident comes five years after Eriksen’s cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 in a group stage match against Finland, when his heart stopped for approximately five minutes.
Eriksen received immediate CPR from his teammate and then-captain Simon Kjaer, which played a critical role in saving his life, followed by the use of a defibrillator on the pitch in Copenhagen.
Remarkably, after being fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), which monitors heart rhythms and can deliver shocks if necessary, Eriksen was able to fully recover. It is suspected that an ICD shock may have led to him clutching his chest during the recent incident.
Eriksen had been unable to play for his previous club Inter Milan due to the ICD, as regulations in Italy prohibited him. However, he successfully resumed his professional career with Brentford in January 2022, just eight months after the traumatic event at Euro 2020.
He made his return to Denmark’s national team two months later before transferring to Manchester United that summer, where he played for three years.
Most recently, he has been with Wolfsburg, making 34 appearances this season as the club faced a historic relegation from the Bundesliga via the play-offs.