STRICKEN star Fabrice Muamba was “in effect dead” for 78 MINUTES
after he collapsed on the field from a cardiac arrest, his club doctor said
today.
Bolton Wanderers medic Jonathan Tobin revealed it took 15 SHOCKS to get
the 23-year-old’s heart started after he collapsed on the pitch on Saturday.
He also told how docs worked on Muamba for 48 MINUTES between his
collapse and arrival at the hospital.
And Dr Tobin described how it took another 30 MINUTES before his heart
started beating again.
He said: “In effect, he was dead in that time.”
The news came as it was revealed Bolton WILL take on Blackburn at home
on Saturday.
Muamba remains in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital after suffering
a cardiac arrest during his side’s FA Cup clash with Spurs.
Dr Tobin, who visited the player yesterday evening, said: “I’m glad to say
that the early signs of recovery have continued. I went to see Fabrice last
night. I went in and he said ’Hi, doc’.
“I asked him how he was and he said ’Fine’.”
Dr Tobin said the player had asked him what had happened.
He said: “I explained to him what had happened. That’s the sort of level of
communication I have had with Fabrice.”
Speaking at the hospital in Bethnal Green, East London, he told of his
reaction when he first realised the player was in trouble.
He said all that was going through his head was “Oh my God, it’s Fabrice”.
Dr Tobin admitted he broke down in tears in the hospital corridor when the
seriousness of what had happened to the player hit home and added
that he had feared the worst.
Dr Andrew Deaner, the cardiologist and Tottenham fan who leapt from his seat
in the crowd and rushed on to the pitch to help the player, said his
recovery could be described as “miraculous”.
He said: “If you’re going to use the term miraculous, I guess it could be used
here.”
Dr Deaner went to visit the player after he had woken up and said that Muamba
was able to make a joke even that early on into his recovery process.
He said: “I whispered into his ear ’What’s your name?’”
The footballer gave his name.
Dr Deaner went on: “I said ’I understand you’re a very good footballer’. And
he said ’I try’.”
Yesterday pals said Fabrice asked why Bolton’s FA Cup tie at Spurs had been
abandoned — and was told by his dad: “Because of you.”
Pals of the Wanderers midfield ace said he had no idea where he was when he
came to in a hospital bed.
His father Marcel asked him if he knew who he was. Family friend Aime Esalo
revealed: “Fabrice said ‘Yes’ and the next thing he asked was, ‘Did we lose?’
“He was told the match was called off while the two teams were drawing 1-1.
Fabrice asked why they had stopped it and his father said, ‘Because of you’.”
Mr Esalo told how Muamba, who continued to make encouraging progress
yesterday, also asked for his fiancée Shauna Magunda when he regained
consciousness on Monday.
But the couple’s son Joshua, three, was not there.
Muamba, was saved from death by CPR — cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pumping
the chest to create artificial blood circulation — given on the pitch during
the televised quarter-final tie.
And today The Sun is launching a campaign calling for such life-saving skills
to become part of the national curriculum in schools, so kids learn how to
help in an emergency.
They should also know sudden cardiac arrests are DIFFERENT from heart
attacks.
The former can occur in the young and healthy if the heart goes into a
dangerous rhythm.
Heart attacks are caused by blocked arteries often linked to old age or
unhealthy lifestyles.
Doctors said he had been “very fortunate” to pull through as fewer than one in
five cardiac arrest victims survive and most suffer brain damage.
And Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor last night painted a positive picture
after visiting Muamba — a former team-mate when both played for Arsenal.
Adebayor, who was joined by Chelsea’s Michael Essien on a previous visit, said
the player was on “on good form” and “back with us again”. He added: “He’s
much better, he’s talking, he’s acting normal. As a brother, as a friend, it
is a big relief.”
Bolton boss Owen Coyle said he “managed to exchange a few words” with Muamba
during a visit. He added: “Fabrice remains critical but there has been
improvement. It’s still very early and he has a long way to go.”
Asked if Muamba could make a full recovery, Coyle replied: “It has happened
before.”
The manager was joined at the hospital by Bolton skipper Kevin Davies and
several club players.
The team will resume training today and are set to return to Tottenham on
Tuesday to replay the Cup tie as long as Muamba continues to recover.
Coyle and Shauna, 27, both thanked legions of well-wishers for their
“incredible” support.
Shauna tweeted: “Fabrice has felt every single one of your prayers.”
Referee Howard Webb, in charge of the Cup game, praised the 35,000-strong
crowd for “almost pushing with the doctor and willing him to get Fabrice’s
heart going”. Football stars Jack Wilshere, Phil Jones and Bacary Sagna
tweeted goodwill messages to Muamba yesterday.
Sunderland players wore “Pray for Muamba” T-shirts before last night’s Premier
League game at Blackburn, as did ref Martin Atkinson. Rovers’ Yakubu showed
off a similar vest when he scored. And in Spain, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi
showed support with a T-shirt before playing Granada last night.
But amid the hope, Sun doctor Carol Cooper sounded a note of caution. She
said: “It’s wrong to expect too much too soon. Sometimes long-term effects
are subtle.”
Prayer mum dies
EXCLUSIVE
By EMILY NASH
A MUM died of a suspected heart attack while praying for Fabrice Muamba at
church.
Christina Goredema, 35, collapsed in front of horrified partner Edward and
their four-year-old son and daughter, two.
Friend Artur Correia, at the service in Hillingdon, North West London, on
Sunday, said: “She had taken the microphone and was talking about how
Fabrice was too young to be this sick, when she fell on to a pastor.
“Someone rushed to try to revive her, but it was no good.
“I was with Edward on Saturday night watching the news about Fabrice and
crying. Now Christina is gone. We’re in shock.”
myView
By VINNIE JONES, Actor trained in CPR
WHAT happened to Fabrice Muamba at the weekend was terrible to see.
It wasn’t just footballers, former players, people involved in the game or
fans who were affected. What happened made everyone sit up and take notice.
Muamba is the kind of player who roars around the pitch and covers every blade
of grass. He has an incredible engine. The effort involved and stress on his
heart must have been huge.
It’s horrible to see an athlete as strong as that collapsing on the pitch
without warning.
I played 500 or 600 games as a professional footballer and I wouldn’t have had
a clue how to do CPR. I think I once got 30 minutes training at school.
It’s a daunting thought for anyone to think they might be faced with a similar
situation.
I didn’t learn CPR until I filmed the advert for the British Heart Foundation
last year. Since the ad was broadcast I’ve had people coming up to me in the
street singing the Stayin’ Alive song. We have raised awareness of a
serious, serious issue.
The other day the British Heart Foundation heard about a girl who saved her
dad’s life by doing CPR after seeing our ad.
Last month an OAP in West London saved his next-door neighbour who suffered a
cardiac arrest. He only knew what to do because of the TV campaign.
CPR should be taught in schools as part of the curriculum.
Think about all the amateur football matches around the UK. The Sunday morning
pub teams are the ones I consider most at risk. They go out and drink into
the small hours and turn up for a kickabout at 10am the next day. Their
heart rate is sky high and they’re battling through a hangover. It’s an
accident waiting to happen.
I might have a film coming up with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sly Stallone.
Those boys are knocking on a bit. At least I’ll be prepared if the action
scenes get a bit too heavy for them.
I followed TV ad tips
BRADLEY Fisher saved the life of his neighbour Gerald Barwick, 79 after seeing
Vinnie Jones teaching CPR in the TV ad Bradley, 68, of Hounslow, West
London, said: “I started pumping his chest to the Stayin’ Alive song, just
like I’d seen Vinnie doing.
“He’d had a massive heart attack. In hospital they said the CPR probably saved
his life.”
My cardiac arrest at 13
DANNY Jackson had a cardiac arrest at 13 while playing football at school.
Danny, of Chesham, Bucks, said: “Luckily there were three staff who felt
confident enough to help. They took it in turns to give me CPR.”
Now 21, Danny works for the Cardiomyopathy Association, which helps heart
muscle disease victims.
Hubby was hero twice
TINA Amiss has been saved TWICE by her husband Pete after having
cardiac arrests in 1994 and 2001.
Physiotherapist Tina, 48, of Greenford, West London, said: “Thank God Pete
knew CPR and resuscitated me.
“I wouldn’t be here today without Pete’s quick thinking and the support of the
Cardiomyopathy Association and the medical staff.”
Read more: Fabrice
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