Christian Eriksen ‘in a good mood’ and ‘making jokes’ following cardiac arrest but wants answers from doctors, says agent
Denmark fans shout out Denmark’s midfielder Christian Eriksen’s name after the suspension of the UEFA EURO 2020 Group B football match between Denmark and Finland at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on June 12, 2021.
HANNAH MCKAY | AFP | Getty Images
Christian Eriksen’s agent says the midfielder is “making jokes” in hospital but wants answers from doctors after suffering a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Euro 2020 opener.
Eriksen was given emergency CPR on the pitch during Saturday’s game against Finland, which was temporarily suspended as the 29-year-old was taken to Rigshospitalet, a hospital near Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen said Eriksen was “gone”, but swift treatment on the field of play and by hospital staff meant the midfielder was stabilised, and he was later able to send his greetings to team-mates.
Martin Schoots, Eriksen’s agent, told Italian outlet Gazzetta on Sunday that the Dane is in good spirits, and is “happy” after seeing the support he has received from around the game.
“We spoke this morning [Sunday]. He was making jokes, he was in a good mood, I thought he was well,” Schoots said.
“We all want to understand what happened to him, and he does too: the doctors are making some in-depth tests, but we’ll need some time.
“He was happy, because he understood how much love he has around him. He received messages from the whole world. And he was particularly struck by those in the Inter environment: not just his team-mates who spoke to him in their private chat, but also the fans.
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“Christian won’t give up. Him, and his family, want to make sure that everybody receives their thanks. Half the world contacted us, everyone was worried. Now he only needs to rest, his wife and parents are with him.
“Even tomorrow [Monday], he will remain under observation, maybe Tuesday as well. But in any case he wants to support his team-mates against Belgium.”
The swift intervention of Simon Kjaer and the medical staff saved Eriksen’s life.
“[Eriksen] was gone,” Denmark’s team doctor Boesen said. “We did cardiac resuscitation, it was a cardiac arrest. How close were we to losing him? I don’t know but we got him back after one defib, so that’s quite fast.”
Eriksen’s sudden collapse prompted Kjaer to clear his team-mate’s airways and start the life-saving CPR technique, which was continued with the aid of a defibrillator and professional medical staff.
Fortunately, the Denmark captain’s first aid skills proved vital and Eriksen is now recovering in hospital and considered to be out of danger.
