Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen was “gone” before he was resuscitated after suffering a cardiac arrest, the team’s doctor Morten Boesen said in a news conference on Sunday.
Eriksen was taken to a hospital in Copenhagen on Saturday after he collapsed on the pitch during Denmark’s Euro 2020 opener against Finland.
“He was gone, and we did cardiac resuscitation. It was a cardiac arrest,” Boesen said. “How close were we [to losing Eriksen]? I don’t know.
“We got him back after one defibrillator, so that’s quite fast. I’m not a cardiologist, so the details I will leave to the experts at the hospital.”
The game between Denmark and Finland was halted on the 43rd minute following the incident before it resumed later on Saturday, resulting in a 1-0 victory for the Fins with Eriksen being named star of the match.
There were also some interesting comments from Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand who said he thought it was wrong for players to be asked if they wanted to continue the match following the incident.
“I know it’s very difficult,” Hjulmand said. “But looking back it was the wrong thing to make the decision between the two scenarios to the players in this case.
“Players were in a shock condition. Players who didn’t really know yet if they had lost their best friend. And they have to decide between these two things. And I have a sense that we shouldn’t have played.
“I know it’s difficult. It’s just a feeling I have. Maybe we should have just gone on to the bus and gone home and let’s see what the next days would have brought.
“That’s just my feeling now, but I think it was a very, very tough decision that the players had to try to make a decision. I know it’s difficult but I have a sense that it was wrong for the players to be given this situation.”
UEFA had been circulating the idea that the Denmark players had asked to play, which was why the game was continued later Saturday. it is clear that was not the case.
Eriksen had just played a short pass when he fell face down onto the ground and was given urgent medical attention for around 10 minutes. UEFA announced shortly after that the game had been suspended.
The midfielder was eventually carried off to a loud ovation, with his teammates walking next to the stretcher.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement on Saturday: “Moments like this put everything in life into perspective. I wish Christian a full and speedy recovery and pray his family has strength and faith.
