Soccer Star 'Dead' for 78 minutes
By: Administrator
Updated: March 22, 2012
Is it a medical miracle or a divine intervention? Speculation and theories are rampant after doctors treating soccer (football) player Fabrice Mamba, the Bolton Wanderers midfielder. Fabrice Muamba did not respond to 15 defibrillator shocks and was "dead" for 78 minutes before his heart started beating again.
Muamba is now responding, speaking in both French and English and even joking with some of his visitors.
Bolton's team doctor, Jonathan Tobin, spoke for the first time on Wednesday, talking reporters through the severity of Muamba's collapse and the frantic efforts made to save his life.
Tobin said he and the other paramedics who rushed onto the field treated Muamba for a total of 48 minutes on the pitch and en route to London's Chest Hospital, but it took a further 30 minutes to restart the midfielder's heart.
"In effect he was dead in that time," Dr Tobin said. "Fabrice was in a type of cardiac arrest where the heart is showing lots of electrical activity but no muscular activity.
While his strong recovery is a good indication of success, he is still in intensive care with his condition labeled as serious.
The FA Cup quarterfinal with Tottenham that was abandoned in the wake of Muamba's collapse, will be replayed on March 27 at White Hart Lane.
(Image courtesy of CNN.)
Muamba is now responding, speaking in both French and English and even joking with some of his visitors.
Bolton's team doctor, Jonathan Tobin, spoke for the first time on Wednesday, talking reporters through the severity of Muamba's collapse and the frantic efforts made to save his life.
Tobin said he and the other paramedics who rushed onto the field treated Muamba for a total of 48 minutes on the pitch and en route to London's Chest Hospital, but it took a further 30 minutes to restart the midfielder's heart.
"In effect he was dead in that time," Dr Tobin said. "Fabrice was in a type of cardiac arrest where the heart is showing lots of electrical activity but no muscular activity.
While his strong recovery is a good indication of success, he is still in intensive care with his condition labeled as serious.
The FA Cup quarterfinal with Tottenham that was abandoned in the wake of Muamba's collapse, will be replayed on March 27 at White Hart Lane.
(Image courtesy of CNN.)
