NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Football

Euro 2020: Christian Eriksen vows he 'won't give up' after on-field cardiac arrest

By Andrew McMurtry
news.com.au·
14 Jun, 2021 06:31 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Christian Eriksen has issued a defiant statement. Photo / Getty Images

Christian Eriksen has issued a defiant statement. Photo / Getty Images

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The world took a collective breath when it was revealed that Danish football star Christian Eriksen was stable and alive in hospital after his shock collapse over the weekend.

It was just before halftime in the Euro 2020 clash between Denmark and Finland that Eriksen fell face first to the ground, sparking horrific scenes on the field, in the stands and in loungerooms across the world.

Danish captain Simon Kjaer and referee Anthony Taylor were praised for their quick actions, while the doctors and medics worked to save Eriksen's life.

While he was later revealed to be alive and stable in a Copenhagen hospital, it was also explained how close Eriksen came to death with the Danish team doctor Martin Boesen saying he couldn't find a pulse.

Christian Eriksen of Denmark goes down injured as team mates (L-R) Simon Kjaer, Andreas Christensen, Martin Braithwaite and Thomas Delaney call for assistance. Photo / AP
Christian Eriksen of Denmark goes down injured as team mates (L-R) Simon Kjaer, Andreas Christensen, Martin Braithwaite and Thomas Delaney call for assistance. Photo / AP
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

But while there have been statements about Eriksen's health over the past few days, the man himself sent a brief statement to Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Thank you all, I won't give up," Eriksen said.

"I feel better now but I want to understand what happened.

"I want to say thank you for all you did for me."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The world had sent an outpouring of tributes to the star, including fans as well as current and former teammates.

This included Belgium's Romelu Lukaku, who plays with Eriksen at Inter Milan, and South Korea's Son Heung-min, his former Tottenham teammate, both paying tribute during their respective games.

Eriksen's friend and agent Martin Schoots also told the publication that Eriksen was blown away by the support he had received.

"He joked, he was in a good mood, I found him fine," Schoots said.

"We all want to understand what happened to him, he wants to do it too: the doctors are carrying out in-depth examinations, it will take time.

"He was happy because he understood how much love is around. Messages have reached him from all over the world.

Denmark's team captain Simon Kjaer consoles Eriksen's distraught wife Sabrina Kvist Jensen. Photo / AP
Denmark's team captain Simon Kjaer consoles Eriksen's distraught wife Sabrina Kvist Jensen. Photo / AP

"And he was particularly impressed by those of the Inter world: not only the teammates he heard through the chat, but also the fans.

"Christian doesn't give up. He and his family want to send their thanks to everyone.

"Half the world has contacted us, everyone was worried.

"Now he just has to rest, with him are his wife and parents."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Questions arise over Eriksen's future

Confusion still reigns over what the cause of Eriksen's issue was as testing continues on the 29-year-old star.

But criticism quickly turned to his club teams, who said on Sunday that Eriksen didn't show any sign of any underlying health condition.

"We had a bad time, not just me, but the whole family of our club," Piero Volpi told Gazzetta Dello Sport over the weekend.

"In the next few days he will be subjected to in-depth examinations.

"The important thing is that he is well, but there had never been any episode that even remotely hinted at a problem when he was at Tottenham nor at Inter. In Italy there are very strict controls."

Eriksen's footballing future is in doubt. Photo / AP
Eriksen's footballing future is in doubt. Photo / AP

But speaking to PA News Agency, Professor Sanjay Sharma, who worked with Eriksen during his seven-year stint at Tottenham Hotspur, warned that football bodies would be reluctant to allow the Inter Milan midfielder to play again.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Clearly something went terribly wrong," Sharma told the PA news agency.

"But they managed to get him back, the question is what happened? And why did it happen?

"This guy had normal tests all the way up to 2019 so how do you explain this cardiac arrest?

"The fact he's stable and awake, his outlook is going to be very good.

"I don't know whether he'll ever play football again.

"Without putting it too bluntly, he died today, albeit for a few minutes, but he did die and would the medical professional allow him to die again?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"The answer is no.

"His cardiac arrest has rocked the entire nation today and that's what happens. It's not just them that it affects, it's the psyche of so many people.

"The good news is he will live, the bad news is he was coming to the end of his career, so would he play another professional football game? That I can't say.

"In the UK he wouldn't play. We'd be very strict about it."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Football

Auckland FC

South American striker favoured to replace Moreno at Auckland FC

04 Jul 12:05 AM
Football

'Makes no sense': Ronaldo pays tribute as details emerge of crash that killed Liverpool football star

03 Jul 06:03 PM
New Zealand

Stephen Hoyle to swap NZ amateur league football for pro A-League

02 Jul 05:00 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Football

South American striker favoured to replace Moreno at Auckland FC

South American striker favoured to replace Moreno at Auckland FC

04 Jul 12:05 AM

There are two Europeans and one South American on the shortlist to replace Neyder Moreno.

'Makes no sense': Ronaldo pays tribute as details emerge of crash that killed Liverpool football star

'Makes no sense': Ronaldo pays tribute as details emerge of crash that killed Liverpool football star

03 Jul 06:03 PM
Inside the Rovers: A-League Bound

Inside the Rovers: A-League Bound

Stephen Hoyle to swap NZ amateur league football for pro A-League

Stephen Hoyle to swap NZ amateur league football for pro A-League

02 Jul 05:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP