Christian Eriksen collapses again during Denmark friendly but is conscious and walking

Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine on Sunday evening, bringing back harrowing memories of his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. The 34-year-old midfielder, fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) after that incident, fell to the ground in the 64th minute, clutching his chest. Both sets of players formed a ring around him as medical staff rushed onto the pitch in Odense. The match, which Denmark led 2-1 through first-half goals from Patrick Dorgu and Patrick Dorgu (sic – sources say Patrick Dorgu and Joakim Maelhe), was abandoned shortly after. Eriksen momentarily lost consciousness but regained it quickly, according to the Danish Football Association, and was able to walk to an ambulance. “Christian walked off the field on his own,” said Denmark’s national team doctor Morten Boesen. “As I see it, the pacemaker is working as it should. He was briefly unconscious, but regained consciousness very quickly, and we were quickly in contact with him.” Boesen added that Eriksen would undergo further tests at the hospital to determine what caused the incident. The player himself sent a message: “He asked me to send his regards to all the players and tell them that he was okay,” Boesen said. Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who witnessed the collapse, told Danish broadcaster TV2: “I turned around and saw Christian on his way to the floor, and we know a little about how he reacts, what that means. Everyone reacted super-fast and with respect. I can only compliment how much courage those who took care of Christian on the field had. The most important thing is that Christian is doing well.” National coach Brian Riemer echoed that, saying: “The most important thing is that Christian is doing well. And he has. He has left the pitch and has sent a greeting to the players. But that’s why the experience is still scary.” Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, working as a pundit for TV2, fought back tears as he described “horrible pictures” and said: “My thoughts are with the family and the children, and it’s a difficult situation to be in right now. This is the second time it has happened, and as Christian’s friend also… it’s really terrible.” Eriksen, who was making his 151st international appearance for Denmark, had resumed his playing career after being fitted with an ICD in 2021, joining Brentford eight months after the Euro 2020 collapse. He later spent three years at Manchester United and moved to Wolfsburg last summer. Boesen confirmed: “We are in ongoing contact with him and the doctors at the hospital. But Christian is doing well.”