The shocking sight of Christian Eriksen collapsing on the pitch during Denmark’s Euro 2020 opener was a moment that stopped the sporting world. But the story that has emerged in the days since is one of extraordinary medical success, which UK doctors are now holding up as a testament to the value of rapid intervention and the technology that saved his life.
Eriksen, 29, suffered a cardiac arrest on the field in Copenhagen. He was immediately treated by medics and given CPR before being defibrillated with an automated external defibrillator, or AED. He was later fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD, a small device that monitors heart rhythm and delivers shocks if a dangerously abnormal rhythm is detected.
The ICD is the same device that has been used to save thousands of lives in the UK, and the success of Eriksen’s recovery has prompted calls for greater awareness and access to such technology. The British Heart Foundation has said that Eriksen’s case shows the importance of immediate CPR and defibrillation, and the need for more defibrillators in public places.
Dr. Michael Ardern, a cardiologist at the University of Leeds, said: “Christian Eriksen is a living example of how the combination of immediate CPR, defibrillation and the ICD can save a life. It is a story we must hold up to show that we can prevent sudden cardiac death if the right systems are in place.”
The story has also focused attention on the contrasting fortunes of the UK’s regions when it comes to heart health. While Eriksen received world-class care in Denmark, the UK’s heart disease death rates remain stubbornly high in poorer parts of the country. In the North East, for example, the rate of premature death from cardiovascular disease is 40% higher than in the South East.
That regional inequality is a matter of life and death. The availability of defibrillators, the access to rapid treatment and the quality of follow-up care all vary by postcode. And that is something that the government has been slow to address, despite repeated promises.
The Eriksen case is a wake-up call. It shows what is possible when the right equipment and expertise are in place. But it also shows the cost of a postcode lottery that leaves too many people at risk.
If Christian Eriksen can survive a cardiac arrest on a football pitch in front of millions, then surely we can ensure that every community in the UK has the same chance. That is the real test of our health system and our society.
