The Inspiring Recovery of Christian Eriksen: Back to Football After Cardiac Arrest

Over a year and a half has passed since Christian Eriksen’s collapse at Euro 2020, where he suffered a cardiac arrest on the field. During Denmark’s match against Finland in June 2021, Eriksen was given life-saving treatment, revived, and rushed to the hospital.

The tense atmosphere was palpable as his teammates surrounded him, shielding the scene from view. The incident drew comparisons to the recent cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin during an NFL game. Hamlin’s heart was restarted on the field, and he is currently in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital.

The rapid response of the medical teams in both cases was crucial. For Eriksen, Denmark’s team doctor, Morten Boesen, noted the urgency of the situation, explaining how close they came to losing him.

Eriksen was later fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) to prevent future cardiac incidents and made a remarkable return to football. The Denmark-Finland game was controversially resumed that evening, following the players’ request to continue.

Contrary to Eriksen, who was conscious and able to wave to fans as he was stretchered off, Hamlin remains heavily sedated. Initial reports about Hamlin being resuscitated twice were corrected; he was revived once on the field, according to his family’s representative, Jordon Rooney.

Denmark’s coach, Kasper Hjulmand, later expressed that the decision to resume the game might have been wrong, given the players’ emotional state. He highlighted the immense pressure and emotional distress faced by the players, acknowledging the global response that emphasized compassion and solidarity in football.

The incidents of Eriksen and Hamlin have highlighted the critical importance of prompt medical intervention in sports and the deep emotional impact such events have on players, fans, and the broader community.