DENMARK MIDFIELDER Christian Eriksen has given fans an update from his hospital bed as he recovers after suffering a cardiac arrest over the weekend.
Eriksen was playing in a Euro 2020 match against Finland on Saturday evening when he suddenly collapsed during a throw-in, falling to the ground unconscious.
It immediately became apparent that Eriksen was dangerously ill, and Denmark captain Simon Kjaer moved him to the recovery position and ordered his team-mates to stand over him to protect the scene from being viewed by cameras.
Fans and Eriksen's wife were in tears as the cameras continued rolling and panned across the stadium- a move which some stations, including RTÉ, are now facing public anger for.
Denmark's players react as paramedics attend to Denmark's midfielder Christian Eriksen after he collapsed on the pitch during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group B football match between Denmark and Finland at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on June 12, 2021 (Photo by Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP/ Getty)The midfielder was eventually resuscitated and carried off the pitch on a stretcher before being brought to hospital to undergo further treatment and recuperation.
Eriksen yesterday released a short statement through his agent to Gazetta dello Sport thanking fans for their well-wishes and saying he "feels better", but has now issued a far more personal message.
In a post to Instagram, featuring a photograph of a smiling Eriksen giving the thumbs up from his hospital bed, the 29-year-old wrote:
"Hello everyone.
"Big thanks for your sweet and amazing greetings and messages from all around the world. It means a lot to me and my family".
He added that he is feeling fine "under the circumstances" and while he is still facing furhter examinations in hospital "I feel okay".
Unsurprisingly, the Denmark star confirmed he would not be playing in the upcoming Euro matches but will "cheer on the boys on the Denmark team".
The circumstances around Eriksen’s collapse remain unclear.
According to Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen all of the midfielder’s medical results have so far been normal.
"The exams that have been done so far look fine," Boesen told reporters.
"We don't have an explanation why it happened. I can't answer that question.
"I didn't see it live, I saw it on screen when it happened. You saw the same as me. No explanation so far."
Boesen did, however, confirm Eriksen had suffered a cardiac arrest.
"He was gone,” he said.
Denmark fans look worried as Christian Eriksen of Denmark receives medical treatment during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group B match between Denmark and Finland on June 12, 2021 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)"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."
Denmark will face Belgium this Thursday, 17 June.
