Share

Muamba 'dead' for 78 minutes

London - Fabrice Muamba's heart stopped beating for 78 minutes and "in effect, he was dead in that time," Bolton's team doctor said on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Bolton midfielder collapsed during an FA Cup match against Tottenham on Saturday after suffering from cardiac arrest. He was taken to London Chest Hospital and remains in intensive care.

Bolton's Premier League game at Aston Villa on Tuesday was postponed. On Wednesday, with Muamba's condition improving, the squad decided to go ahead with Saturday's match against Blackburn.

Bolton will also make a return to White Hart Lane on Tuesday to play Tottenham in the FA Cup quarter-final match that was abandoned after Muamba collapsed just before halftime.

Medics tried unsuccessfully to revive Muamba for 48 minutes on Saturday before he arrived at the hospital, Bolton team doctor Jonathan Tobin said. It then took another 30 minutes, after 15 shocks from a defibrillator, before the player's heart started beating again.

"They were working on him without his heart having a muscular beat," Tobin said. "(Seventy-eight minutes) without his heart beating and without him breathing. In effect, he was dead in that time ... throughout the whole resuscitation period you are worrying.

"You know the longer the resuscitation goes on the less chance there is of survival, but this is slightly different. This is a very fit 23-year-old."

It took until Monday for the former England under-21 international to start breathing independently again and speaking.

Dr. Andrew Deaner, a cardiologist and Tottenham fan who was at the game Saturday, left his seat and rushed onto the pitch to help Muamba.

"If you're going to use the term 'miraculous,' I guess it could be used here," Deaner said. "He has made a remarkable recovery so far.

"Two hours after (regaining consciousness) I whispered in his ear, 'What's your name?' and he said, 'Fabrice Muamba.' I said, 'I hear you're a really good footballer' and he said, 'I try.' I had a tear in my eye."

The cause of the cardiac arrest is yet to be discovered. The doctors revealed that Muamba had undergone a routine screening for heart defects in August. He was checked again on Sunday, with the test producing a "normal" result.

It is too early to say if he will ever return to action.

"As things stand, his life is not in danger at this time," Deaner said. "It is early days so it is not possible to say (if he will play again)."

Tobin added that the "early signs of recovery have continued."

"I went to see Fabrice last night," Tobin said Wednesday. "He said, 'Hi, Doc.' I asked him how he was and he said, 'Fine.'"

Muamba was visited on Wednesday by former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry, the New York Red Bulls striker who flew in from the United States. Muamba went from the Arsenal academy in 2002 to the first team in 2005 before leaving two years later for Birmingham. In 2008, he moved to Bolton.

The increasingly positive medical reports from London led to the Bolton team deciding it was the right time to return to playing football as they struggle to stay in the Premier League.

"We spoke together with the players as a group this morning and I talked with Fabrice's family last night," Bolton manager Owen Coyle said. "Fabrice's father Marcel and his fiancee Shauna were keen that we fulfill our fixtures. Once the players knew this there was no doubt in our minds that we would play the matches."


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1473 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE