Revs rally behind Denmark’s Eriksen
Danish midfielder suffered cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 match
FOXBORO — There is no way to anticipate when a tragedy will occur on the soccer pitch, but it’s essential to be prepared for any eventuality.
That state of readiness likely saved the life of Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen, who collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest late in the first half of Denmark’s 1-0 loss to Finland in a Euro 2020 match on Saturday. The match was held at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
Denmark’s team physician, Dr. Morten Boesen, thought Eriksen “was gone” as he attempted CPR before giving way to paramedics with a defibrillator. Eriksen, 29, was transported to Rigshospitalet, where he was stabilized and is in the process of recovery.
“I didn’t see it live, I actually received a phone call while I was in my car during the incident and the person that called said the player had died on the field,” said Revolution head coach Bruce Arena following Tuesday’s workout at the team’s practice facility.
“From what I could see and hear, the player was very fortunate the medical team did an outstanding job to bring him back. Obviously, we are very pleased about that.”
Eriksen’s teammates wore expressions of horror and disbelief as they locked arms and encircled the downed player as he was being treated by paramedics.
Arena experienced the same feelings of horror and disbelief when he was head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team during the 2003 FIFA Confederation’s Cup in Lyon, France. Midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe of Cameroon collapsed and died during a semifinal match against Columbia on June 26 at Stade de Gerland Stadium. The official cause of death was later attributed to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
“I was coaching the U.S. Team in the 2003 Confederations Cup in France and we lost a player due to heat stroke on the field,” said Arena. “I think at that time our medical care wasn’t appropriate.
“I think the fact that they (Denmark) were so very well prepared to deal with something like that was amazing to me.”
The Revolution’s two young center backs, second year pro Henry Kessler and rookie Jon Bell, were watching the match in real time when Eriksen collapsed while awaiting a throw in.
Concussions and heat exhaustion are the acceptable risks soccer players at all levels face every game, especially in the hot weather months of the season. But Kessler and Bell had trouble coming to terms with seeing a healthy professional athlete’s heart stop working as he laid face down on the turf.
“It was scary and I was watching it live when it happened,” said Bell. “It was really jaw dropping as it happened and it is a good thing that he is OK.
“But yeah, it was a scary moment for sure because I had never seen anything like that before. That was a heart problem and I hope he recovers fully. It must have been hard for his teammates to play after that.”
Kessler said he is grateful that the Revolution has a medical team in place that meet the standards established by MLS. They are trained and equipped to deal with any type of injury that can occur in the course of the game.
“It gives us perspective that it can happen to any one of us and I’m grateful for my good health and it is something I will never take for granted,” said Kessler.
“We have top of the line equipment and I don’t want to even think what would have happened to him (Eriksen) 50 years ago. We are blessed to have great technology a great medical staff so that they could save a life like the way they saved Christian.”
DB Jalen Mills
Stephon who?
Just kidding, but Mills, who replaced Gilmore in the team’s starting defense, practiced like his All-Pro teammate Tuesday.
He recorded all three pass breakups in team drills, knocking balls away from Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne and N’Keal Harry. He thwarted Cam Newton twice and Mac Jones once. After the final throw in his direction, an overthrown deep ball that had no chance of completion because of his tight coverage, Mills started barking at the offense.
His message: You haven’t learned your lesson yet?