ODENSE — Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine but was later able to walk off the field, five years after suffering a cardiac arrest during the European Championship.
The 34-year-old former Manchester United midfielder, who has a type of pacemaker, fell to the ground in the 64th minute of the match in Odense.
Medical staff rushed onto the pitch while players from both teams gathered around him to shield the scene from television or smartphone cameras, AFP reported.
The referee called off the match with Denmark leading 2-1 and Eriksen was subsequently taken to hospital, having been shielded by both sets of players as he walked off the pitch.
“Christian Eriksen is conscious and doing well under the circumstances,” the Danish football association wrote on social media.
Eriksen has worn a type of pacemaker since he collapsed during the group stage game against Finland at Euro 2020, which was played in 2021.
That led to him spending more than six months away from football.
Denmark’s team doctor Morten Boesen said Eriksen was “doing well”.
“As I see it, the pacemaker responded as it should,” he said.
“He was briefly unconscious, but regained consciousness very quickly, and we were quickly in contact with him.
“He will now undergo further examinations at the hospital to determine what caused the incident.
“We are in ongoing contact with him and the doctors at the hospital.
“But Christian is doing well and he asked me to send his regards to all the players and tell them that he was OK.”
Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg praised the swift help his teammate received.
“There was a throw-in and I walked calmly to the touchline. Then I turned around and I saw Christian collapse,” he told Danish television station TV2.
“We know very well what that means and the reaction was extremely rapid and respectful.”
Denmark coach Brian Riemer, who worked with Eriksen at Brentford, said it had been “an extremely shocking experience for everyone, the staff, the players and the opponents”.
He said: “He’s someone who counts a lot for me. You’re closer to certain players than others and he was one of the ones I got close to at Brentford.”
