At the EM game – “Was five minutes dead” – Eriksen gives the first interview after cardiac arrest

The Danish national soccer player Christian Eriksen thanked him for the global sympathy in his first interview after his collapse at the European Championship last summer. “It was unbelievable that so many people felt the need to write to me or give me flowers. It touched so many people – and they wanted to show my family and me that. That makes me happy, ”said Eriksen in an interview published on Tuesday by the Danish TV channel DR1.

The 29-year-old midfielder collapsed on the pitch in Copenhagen on June 12, 2021 during the European Championship group game against Finland and had to be resuscitated. Even when he was in the hospital, countless fans brought flowers over for days. “It was strange because I didn’t expect people to send me flowers because I was dead for five minutes,” said Eriksen, who was implanted with a defibrillator. This recognizes cardiac arrhythmias and triggers shocks in an emergency.

He is deeply touched that so many people are worried about him and his state of health and continue to do so. «It was extraordinary. It was a great help for me to receive all the sympathy. And people are still texting me. I thanked everyone and would like to thank everyone, ”said Eriksen, who had to terminate his contract with Inter Milan. In Italy, no athlete is allowed to play with a defibrillator. How his career will continue is open. Eriksen recently kept fit in Chiasso, Switzerland. His goal, however, is to contest the World Cup in Qatar with Denmark. “I’m in top form,” said the Dane. He really wanted to go back to the national team and show that his collapse was only a one-time thing and will not happen again. “My heart is not an obstacle,” emphasized Eriksen. Whether he comes back is now up to the coaches.