Christian Eriksen to be fitted with an under-skin ‘heart starter’ after going into cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 match

Denmark footballer Christian Eriksen is to be fitted with an under-skin heart starter device after suffering a cardiac arrest during his side’s opening Euro 2020 match.

The decision was made following several “different heart examinations” and Eriksen has “accepted the solution”, the national team doctor said.

The heart starter, known as an ICD, is designed to correct the rhythm of the heart if it notices a potentially dangerous pattern by issuing a number of small or larger electric shocks.

In extreme situations it can act as a defibrillator to restore the heart’s normal rhythm, according to the British Heart Foundation website.

It comes five days after the 29-year-old Inter Milan midfielder collapsed on the pitch while playing against Finland in Copenhagen, leaving him needing to be resuscitated and the match temporarily stopped.

Eriksen, who spent seven years with Tottenham in the Premier League, regained consciousness before being taken to hospital, where medics continue to work to identify what caused his cardiac arrest.

Denmark‘s team doctor Morten Boesen said the midfielder was “gone” but the swift response and treatment on the pitch and by medical staff meant he was stabilised and later able to message his teammates.

Captain Simon Kjaer was among those praised for his quick response to Eriksen’s collapse, hailed a hero for a potentially “life-saving” intervention by securing his neck, clearing the airways and starting CPR.

Providing an update on his status on Thursday, Mr Boesen said: “After Christian has been through different heart examinations it has been decided that he should have an ICD (heart starter).

“Christian has accepted the solution and the plan has moreover been confirmed by specialists nationally and internationally who all recommend the same treatment.

“We encourage everybody to give Christian and his family peace and privacy the following time.”

Dutch international Daley Blind, who played with Eriksen at Ajax, was fitted with an ICD in 2019 after being diagnosed with heart muscle inflammation in 2019.

Blind and Eriksen played together for three years, and he’s revealed he considered missing the Netherlands‘ opening Euro 2020 game after Eriksen’s cardiac arrest.

The defender broke down in tears when he was substituted in his team’s 3-2 win over Ukraine on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Eriksen thanked well-wishers from around the world via the national team’s official Twitter page.

His team will face Belgium in their second game of the tournament in Copenhagen, and the players will kick the ball out of play in the 10th minute to take part in a minute’s applause for Eriksen.

Several Belgian players have played with Eriksen, including striker Romelu Lukaku, who plays with the Dane at Inter.

Lukaku dedicated his goal to Eriksen in Belgium’s first game against Russia and the striker confirmed on Wednesday that his team will join the applause after 10 minutes.

The timing of the tribute has been chosen because Eriksen wears the number 10 shirt for Denmark.