Doctors fitted a defibrillator implant into his heart and he made an incredible return to football eight months later.
Football has had to hold its breath for Christian Eriksen before.
It’s doing so again.
In scenes that will be achingly familiar, the 34-year-old collapsed on the pitch during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine, on Sunday.
The critical difference from 2021 is that Eriksen was conscious and walking to the ambulance.
Christian Eriksen collapses for second time on a football pitch as Denmark vs Ukraine friendly suspended
According to ZoryaLondonsk on X, Christian Eriksen has collapsed again in Denmark’s pre-World Cup friendly.
Eriksen was conscious when he was taken from the field.
He walked to the ambulance.
Yet, he still had to be taken to hospital for assessment and observation.
No further medical information has been confirmed at the time of writing.
However, that evening in Copenhagen is still etched onto the memories of football fans.
He was clinically dead for several minutes.
CPR was performed on the pitch.
His teammates formed a human shield around him.
Eriksen was resuscitated.
However, he had a defibrillator implanted.
And then, in one of the most remarkable comebacks sport has ever produced, he returned to football.
He had said his heart was “not an obstacle.”
And had proved that true for five years.
Saturday’s events will reignite every question that has surrounded his career since 2021.
About the risks of continuing to play professional football.
Those are questions for another day.
However, right now, the football world simply wants to know he is okay.
The fact that he was conscious and able to walk to the ambulance is the only news that matters in this moment.
Everything else can wait.
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