Christian Eriksen: Defibrillator Delivers Life-Saving Impulse After Midfielder Collapses Again

Images mirrored a frightening past as Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during a match against Ukraine, five years after a similar incident. On June 12, 2021, Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during a European Championship match against Finland. This time, however, the 34-year-old appeared to be better protected, likely due to a defibrillator implanted in 2021.

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I spoke with Christian this morning, and he is doing well.

Following his collapse and a brief treatment pause, Eriksen was able to stand up and leave the pitch on his own. Team doctor Morten Boesen stated that Eriksen is well, with his family, and in good spirits, with expectations for his hospital release and return home soon. Boesen expressed confidence that Eriksen's defibrillator delivered an impulse, which helped the player regain consciousness. Eriksen reportedly even requested to walk off the field to the ambulance himself.

Eriksen has been playing with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) since 2021. While heart wall thickening is a common cause of cardiac arrest in younger individuals, it is less likely in Eriksen's case given his close medical monitoring. A more probable cause for his 2021 cardiac arrest is myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, which can disrupt the heart's electrical activity and lead to ventricular fibrillation.

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He is with his family and in good spirits. He is expected to be released from the hospital soon and return home.

Unlike a pacemaker that continuously supports the heart, an ICD delivers electrical shocks only when needed. The device is typically implanted directly under the skin, often in the chest area. The incident highlights the advancements in medical technology and the resilience of athletes who continue to compete with such devices.

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I am relatively sure that his defibrillator delivered an impulse.