Bolton Wanderers’ Fabrice Muamba remained in critical condition yesterday after suffering cardiac arrest and collapsing during an FA Cup match at Tottenham Hotspur that was later abandoned.
Bolton said in a statement yesterday that the 23-year-old player’s heart “started working again” at a London hospital on Saturday night.
The former England -under-21 player fell face-down to the pitch near the halfway line during Saturday’s FA Cup match and medics rushed onto the pitch to begin resuscitating him.
Photo: AFP
Releasing more details of Muamba’s condition, Bolton said that Muamba remains “in a critical condition” in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital’s heart attack unit.
“Fabrice received prolonged resuscitation at the ground and on route to the London Chest Hospital, where his heart eventually started working,” Bolton said in a joint statement with the hospital. “As is normal medical practice, Fabrice remains anesthetized in intensive care and will be for at least 24 hours. His condition continues to be closely monitored by the cardiac specialists at the hospital.”
Bolton manager Owen Coyle was joined by club officials and club captain Kevin Davies at the hospital.
“Fabrice’s family have asked me to pass on their thanks for the many, many kind messages of support from not only Bolton fans, but also fans from clubs across the country and abroad,” he said in a statement. “All our thoughts and prayers are for Fabrice and his family at this time.”
When Muamba collapsed in the 41st minute of the FA Cup match, Coyle shouted from the touchline: “He’s just collapsed.”
Tottenham players William Gallas and Louis Saha along with referee Howard Webb immediately beckoned for medical support as the quarter-final was stopped and live television coverage turned away from the scene.
Some players appeared to be praying and tearful as fans chanted Muamba’s name between periods of complete silence at White Hart Lane.
The crowd rose in applause as Muamba was carried off on a stretcher wearing an oxygen mask, while still having his chest pumped. The players also left the pitch and Webb abandoned the match shortly after.
Fabrice Ndala Muamba was born in what was then called Zaire on April 6, 1988. His father left the country for England because of political turmoil and his son joined him there in 1999.
“This is my adopted country,” Fabrice Muamba said last year. “People have helped me, welcomed me with open arms and given me this opportunity. I’m earning a more-than-decent living and leading a comfortable life. I’m very appreciative of that.”
His road to a professional -soccer career started when he joined Arsenal’s youth academy in 2002.
He made his debut at age 17 on Oct. 25, 2005, in the League Cup at Sunderland, and was loaned to Birmingham City in the League Championship the following season. The loan was made permanent in May 2007, and he made his Premier League debut for Birmingham in 2007-2008 before joining Bolton in June 2008.
Muamba, a father of one, has been part of England’s youth team system and was a member of its team at last year’s European -under-21 Championship, where he came on as a substitute against Ukraine and started against the Czech Republic.
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