Our response to Christian Eriksen’s confirmed cardiac arrest

Christian Eriksen’s sudden collapse is a “stark reminder that a cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere and anytime, without warning,” according to our Associate Medical Director. 

It’s now been confirmed that Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest when he collapsed in Denmark's Euro 2020 match against Finland. 

Eriksen was giving immediate CPR and defibrillation and is now “stable” in hospital, according to the latest reports. 

Immediate CPR and defibrillation is vital 

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, our Associate Medical Director and Consultant Cardiologist, said: “Our thoughts are with Christian Eriksen, his family and the whole football community following his sudden collapse. This shocking event is a stark reminder that a cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere and anytime, without warning. 

“If someone suffers a cardiac arrest, it’s vital they receive immediate CPR and defibrillation to give them the best chance of survival. Thankfully it seems that this was the response that Christian received.” 

‘Every second counts’

Just one in ten people survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest in the UK, and every minute without CPR and defibrillation decreases a person’s chances of survival by up to 10%. 

Performing CPR can more than double a person’s chances of survival in some cases. 

Dr Babu-Narayan added: “Every second counts when someone suffers a cardiac arrest - the more of us that know how to perform CPR, the more lives that can be saved. 

“It’s crucial that we continue to find opportunities to offer everyone training in CPR - including in secondary school education - and that we make public access defibrillators readily available in the places they are needed most. This will mean that more people could get the rapid and life-saving response that Christian received.”

Find out more about learning CPR