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If he makes a full recovery after his heart stopped for 2 hours - and presumably his brain was starved of oxygen, then that is nothing short of a miracle. Here's hoping.

His heart wasn't beating of its own accord for two hours, however after he got to the hospital he was on a heart and lung machine, and when the medics got to him on the pitch they started doing CPR which will have made sure there was oxygen going to the brain.

However the first five/six minutes are the most critical, if a brain is starved of oxygen for longer brain damage is quite likely. So it depends how fast they started doing CPR, and how well they managed to get the blood flowing round his body.

Oxygen deprivation is an odd subject, they did a study on Horizon a few years ago to try and understand it better. It's a roughly 50/50 chance if you've been starved of oxygen as to what will happen in intensive care and doctors still don't properly understand why different people react so completely differently.

wewantourdarbyback wrote:However the first five/six minutes are the most critical, if a brain is starved of oxygen for longer brain damage is quite likely. So it depends how fast they started doing CPR, and how well they managed to get the blood flowing round his body.

My cousin was at the game and said it looked the the St.Johns ambulance people started CPR very quickly and was full of praise for them. So fingers crossed the brain wasn't starved of oxygen for too long.

This from the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young

Dr Steve Cox, Director of Screening at CRY says: “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.

“One in every 300 of the young people that CRY tests will be identified with a potentially life threatening condition. Although screening will not identify all young people at risk, in Italy, where screening is mandatory for all young people engaged in organised sport, they have reduced the incidence of young sudden cardiac death by 90%.

“This is because sport can significantly increase a person’s risk if they have an underlying condition.

“CRY’s screening programme is overseen by leading sports cardiologist, Professor Sanjay Sharma. It is part of a wider research programme that is building our understanding of the incidence of cardiac conditions in young people and informing national policy on best practice to minimise the incidence and impact of young sudden death.

“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.”


Perhaps getting our young players tested is something we should be looking at. I can testify that the quick actions of medical staff can be life saving, but also that if by doing our best to identify potential problems we stop one tragedy then it's worth it.

Diamondsforever wrote:By co-incidence we received an e-mail last week promoting free screening through CRY. I have passed all the information to our management team and I hope that all our young players take up the free service.

The news of Fabrice today is encouraging, I hope his recovery continues.

Absolutely. If it's possible for one positive to come from what's happened to Fabrice, let's hope that it will raise awareness of this condition and encourage more people to get themselves tested before it's too late.

Sadly, this player didn't make it after a cardiac arrest!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-17577497

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19265338

"Fabrice Muamba retires from football after cardiac arrest"

He's only 24!

Sad to say that I'm not surprised. We share the same cardiac condition and to be here typing about another person still alive is rare, usually the condition is only discovered post mortem. I can't speak for Fabrice but I certainly thank my lucky stars for every day that I have.

I also have an ICD fitted and while you get used to it it can cause discomfort during everyday life so I can't begin to think what's it like trying to play top class sport.

In my opinion the advice that will have decided things for him is the latest advice coming out of the States which is not to have any intense physical exertion as it accelerates the degeneration of the heart.

Sad news but in the grand scheme, good that he's still able to make that decision.

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but it is in the same topic so I didnt want to create another..

Think this guy should take a page out of Muamba's book, Evander Sno who previously had an on-pitch heart attack in 2010, yesterday had yet ANOTHER on-pitch heart attack by the sounds of it & still survives, was even able to walk off the pitch due to his internal defibrillator which pretty much saved his life... it was only put in as a precaution, talk about luck.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/foot ... rs-1353278