Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark's match against Ukraine on Sunday. The 34-year-old walked off the pitch after regaining consciousness, thanks to an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in his chest.
The device detected a dangerous heart rhythm and delivered an electrical shock, restoring normal function. Cardiologists describe the jolt as feeling like being thumped in the chest.
Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch in 2021, requiring CPR. He later had the ICD implanted. This time, the device kicked in immediately, preventing a lengthy collapse.
Heart problems in young athletes are rare. In the UK, sudden cardiac arrests kill 12 people under 35 each week. Screening programs find that 1 in 300 young people may have underlying conditions.
Many athletes with ICDs return to sport after medical advice. Eriksen's doctors will now investigate why his heart rhythm changed during the match.
