Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo sent a message of support to Danish player Christian Eriksen and his family after Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during his country's match against Finland on Saturday at "Euro 2020." Ronaldo posted on his Instagram account: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Christian Eriksen and his family. The world of football stands together in hope for good news. I count on your return to the pitch soon, Chris! Stay strong!"
Denmark's team doctor, Martin Boisen, spoke about his team's intervention to save the national team's playmaker's life. Boisen said in a press conference after the match: "We were called to the pitch when Christian Eriksen collapsed. I didn't personally see him fall, but it was clear that he had lost consciousness." He added, "When we reached him, he was lying on his side, breathing, and I took his pulse, but suddenly things changed as everyone saw, and we performed chest compressions and resuscitation." He continued: "The medical team from the tournament arrived quickly, and thanks to their assistance, we did what we had to do. We managed to bring Eriksen back to life."
Eriksen was quickly transported to the nearest hospital in the Danish capital, where he received medical attention and underwent further tests before his health condition was confirmed to be stable. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) issued a statement via its official "Euro 2020" Twitter account, stating that Eriksen's condition is now stable.
Eriksen, 29, who recently won the Serie A title with Inter, suddenly collapsed on the field while receiving the ball from a nearby throw-in just before halftime in Copenhagen, with his eyes wide open. His teammates formed a circle around him, with some visibly crying. Minutes after his collapse, with the score at 0-0, the player was taken off on a stretcher in shocking scenes, accompanied by medical staff and Danish team players who appeared deeply affected, while he was covered to shield him from public view. However, a photo circulated showing the player regaining consciousness as he was transported from the field on a stretcher.
The match was paused for about an hour and a half before it resumed and ended with a surprising 1-0 victory for Finland, which was participating in its first major tournament in history.
