Fabrice Muamba's heart stopped beating for two hours after collapse

 

• Heart did not beat independently until he reached hospital
• Cahill reveals 'Pray 4 Muamba' shirt after Chelsea goal.

• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 18 March 2012
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/18/fabrice-muamba-heart-two-hours 

Gary Cahill celebrates scoring for Chelsea by revealing a shirt with the message 'Pray 4 Muamba'. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images

Paramedics tried to resuscitate Fabrice Muamba but could not get his heart to start beating on its own for almost two hours after he suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch during Bolton's FA Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur.

Muamba fell to the ground at White Hart Lane at 6.11pm on Saturday in front of millions of television viewers and paramedics were unable to start his heart working by itself again until he reached the London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green, east London, at 8pm. The player remains anaesthetised in intensive care at the hospital, which is seven miles away from the stadium.

On Sunday a minute's applause was held for Muamba before Wolverhampton Wanderers' Premier League game against Manchester United at Molineux. During Chelsea's FA Cup game against Leicester at Stamford Bridge the midfielder's former Bolton Wanderers team-mate Gary Cahill revealed a T-shirt with the message "Pray 4 Muamba" after scoring the home side's opener.

Earlier, the Bolton manager Owen Coyle had thanked fans for their support, adding: "All our thoughts and prayers are for Fabrice and his family at this time."

A joint statement from the hospital and Bolton read: "Fabrice Muamba remains in a critical condition in intensive care in the heart attack centre at the London Chest Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital yesterday evening after collapsing at White Hart Lane where he sustained a cardiac arrest during the FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur.

"Fabrice received prolonged resuscitation at the ground and on route to the London Chest Hospital where his heart eventually started working. As is normal medical practice, Fabrice remains anaesthetised 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."

Coyle added: "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 … The family would also like to thank the media for respecting their privacy at this time."

Bolton have postponed their next fixture – a Premier League game against Aston Villa that had been scheduled for Tuesday evening. "The club would like to thank Aston Villa and the Premier League for their kind support and understanding at this time," read a statement posted on Bolton's website.

Members of Muamba's family including his fiancee were reported to have attended the hospital on Saturday night. The following morning fans arrived and left tributes to Muamba outside. Two children left drawings they had made for the midfielder and flowers were left on the doorstep. A Spurs fans who had suffered a similar heart problem delivered a bouquet of flowers. Coyle and a club medic returned to the hospital on Sunday morning.

Fans left flowers, shirts and scarves at Bolton's Reebok Stadium close to the players' entrance and the location of the club's remembrance book. Supporters arrived throughout the morning to leave tributes. One message written on a card with a Manchester United emblem on it read: "Our thoughts and prayers are with you. One game, one family." A Bolton flag was signed with the message: "Just get back to full health. Praying for you." Two Bolton shirts were left at the scene, signed with messages of support. An Easter egg was left by one fan.

Dr Steve Cox, director of screening at the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), said sport can significantly increase the risk of a cardiac incident if a person has an underlying condition. He said: "CRY wants all young people to be aware of the importance of cardiac screening and to have the opportunity to be tested. We already provide screening services for a number of professional sporting bodies, including the English Institute of Sport, the RFU, RFL, LTA and a number of FA teams including Manchester City.

"One in every 300 of the young people that CRY tests will be identified with a potentially life-threatening condition. Every week in the UK, 12 apparently fit and healthy young people, under the age of 35, die from undiagnosed cardiac conditions. 80% of these deaths will occur with no prior symptoms."