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| The moment when Christian Eriksen suffers a heart attack on the pitch |
In the world of professional football, heart attacks are a silent killer that has claimed the lives of many talented players. The latest tragic victim of this silent killer is Rafael Dwamena, a promising forward for Egnatia of Rrogozhina, who collapsed on the field during a match and passed away in the hospital. This is not the first time a player has been lost to a heart attack in the world of football. In fact, heart attacks are one of the leading causes of death in professional football players, with a FIFA study in 2020 revealing that in a 5-year period, 617 deaths occurred at all levels of professional football worldwide, many of which were due to heart attacks.
The case of Christian Eriksen, a Danish midfielder, is a stark reminder of the dangers of heart attacks in football. During the UEFA Euro 2020 Group B match between Denmark and Finland, Eriksen collapsed on the pitch and was rushed to the hospital. His heart had stopped suddenly, and doctors were unsure why. One of the most common causes of a cardiac arrest is a life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm. Other causes include cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle affecting its size, shape, or thickness, which can be inherited, and acute myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle.
Eriksen was lucky to be in a stadium where immediate medical attention was available. He received prompt CPR on the pitch and was connected to a defibrillator, which checked his heart rhythm and shocked his heart to return it to a normal rhythm if appropriate. This is a very rare occurrence for someone in the professional field, and it's more common in amateur athletics and people running marathons for the first time.
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| The moment Rafael Dwamena suffers a heart attack on the field and loses consciousness |
Despite the shock and sadness, the football community rallied around Eriksen. His teammates, the fans, and the entire football world stood by him, showing their support and solidarity. The match was halted, and Eriksen was rushed to the hospital where he was stabilized. His survival was a miracle, and he returned to the field to continue his career.
However, the tragic loss of Dwamena and Eriksen's near-death experience highlight the urgent need for more attention and research into the dangers of heart attacks in football. It's important for players, clubs, and governing bodies to take this issue seriously and implement measures to identify and prevent heart attacks. This includes regular medical check-ups, early detection of heart conditions, and education about the risks and signs of heart attacks.
Soruces:
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-60375933
https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2021/june/our-response-to-christian-eriksens-confirmed-cardiac-arrest
https://news.sky.com/story/euro-2020-christian-eriksen-suffered-cardiac-arrest-on-pitch-doctors-say-as-he-sends-greetings-to-teammates-from-hospital-12331468
https://www.ocnal.com/2023/11/raphael-dwamena-dead-albania-egnatia-hart-problem.html