Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba is in stable condition in the intensive care unit of a London hospital after collapsing during the club’s FA Cup match at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
During the 41st minute of the 1-1 match, Muamba suddenly fell face down on the pitch at London’s White Hart Lane. Paramedics rushed to his side and attempted to resuscitate him for several minutes using CPR and a defibrillator. Muamba reportedly wasn’t breathing when he was taken to the hospital. The match has since been postponed.
Doctors still haven’t confirmed what caused Muamba to collapse. Bolton, meanwhile, has described Muamba as being “critically ill” in a statement it issued on its website:
“Bolton Wanderers can confirm that Fabrice Muamba has been admitted to the Heart Attack Centre at the London Chest Hospital where he is currently in a critically ill condition in intensive care. No further information will be issued at this stage.”
Muamba is a political refugee of the Democratic Republic of Congo and a former standout on England’s U-21 squad.
Players on hand were visibly shaken as the incident unfolded and several were seen praying on the field as the 23-year-old was attended to. Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart, one of those who first called for medical assistance for Muamba, offered his support on Twitter: “Fabrice Muamba is in stable condition according to the hospital. Great news, let’s hope he will get better.”
The FA also sent its best wishes, tweeting: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Fabrice Muamba and his family right now. A wonderful person.”
Here’s video of the scary scene shortly after Muamba collapsed:
