Dr Xand details ‘life-saving’ device after Christian Eriksen collapse
The Danish footballer collapsed 65 minutes into a friendly game against Ukraine
Danish football star Christian Eriksen collapsed during a friendly fixture between Denmark and Ukraine just days ahead of the men's Fifa World Cup. The 34 year old was able to walk off the pitch and is reportedly recovering well, though the incident felt disturbingly reminiscent of his cardiac arrest during a European Championship match in 2021, when his heart stopped beating.
BBC's Dr Xand appeared on Morning Live to shed light on what occurred on Sunday, explaining how it was "different" to that alarming episode in 2021 and why defibrillators can prove such a crucial instrument in saving lives. Following the 2021 incident, Eriksen had an ICD fitted, which Dr Xand described as a "shock box".
This Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator is a form of pacemaker that monitors heart rate around the clock and, upon detecting a dangerous rhythm, delivers a shock much like any conventional defibrillator would, restoring the heart to a safe rhythm.
Dr Xand said: "It basically gives his heart a shock if it stops beating. So he hasn't had a heart attack, he's had what's called a 'cardiac arrest' meaning, his heart has gone into a rhythm that is potentially life-threatening and could be fatal."
Dr Xand compared it to medical dramas when they reach for the defibrillator pads "they go clear - 'chujung' - and they restart someone's heart". Dr Xand commended Eriksen for providing such a "great" example of how normal life can resume following the fitting of an ICD, recalling how earlier in his career, doctors would caution ICD patients against activities as gentle as a round of golf.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that these shocks would prove "very disruptive" for the footballer, particularly should one occur mid-match. The doctor added: "It is an incredible reminder of the life-saving power of these defibrillators and it actually allowed him to get up and walk off the pitch.
"The crucial thing is; the closer you are to a defibrillator, the more life-saving it is."
This final point explains why survival rates for heart attacks can vary so dramatically depending on where a person is when one strikes. Approximately 5 to 10% of those who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital make it through.
This figure rises sharply to 50-70% of patients surviving if a defibrillator reaches them in time. With hundreds of thousands of defibrillators situated across the UK, Dr Xand urged anyone responsible for maintaining one in their community to ensure it remains fully charged and properly serviced, as it can "massively save lives".
Later during the Morning Live programme, Dr Xand responded to a viewer's question, confirming that a defibrillator can safely be used on someone fitted with a pacemaker or similar device.
He said: "A pacemaker is not a barrier to defibrillation, but you don't have to learn.
"Any of these portable defibrillators do all the work for you. You attach the pads according to the diagram, press the button, and it will say 'analysing patient' and it will figure everything out. But yes, a pacemaker is not a barrier to defibrillation but you don't have to learn."
