Footballer’s cardiac arrest highlights importance of life-saving CPR and defibrillation
Harrogate Town AFC has teamed up with Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) to promote the importance of CPR following Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest during the Euro 2020 tournament.
Swift action was crucial to Eriksen’s survival when the 29-year-old midfielder collapsed during Denmark’s opening game against Finland on 12 June. He was brought back to life with a combination of CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation that involves chest compressions - and an electric shock from a defibrillator.
As part of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Restart a Heart campaign which aims to teach CPR, fans will be encouraged to learn the life-saving skill. Watch out for the players and Harry the Gator in their Restart a Heart campaign t-shirts!
Jason Carlyon, Community Engagement Manager with YAS, said: “The quick reaction of witnesses undoubtedly saved Christian Erikson’s life, as was the case with Fabrice Muamba, Glen Hoddle and David Ginola who are also cardiac arrest survivors.
“But not everyone is as fortunate. In the UK, only 10% of people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside hospital survive, partly because they don’t receive early CPR and defibrillation.
“With only one in three people in England saying they would be willing to perform CPR if they witnessed a cardiac arrest, it’s important that we give people the confidence and skills to save someone’s life in this medical emergency.
“More patients will survive if more people know what to do before an ambulance arrives, so we are delighted that Harrogate Town is supporting our campaign and helping us to create more life-savers.”
Ambulance staff and volunteers visited 109 Yorkshire’s secondary schools to teach CPR to 30,000 students on Restart a Heart Day (Friday 15 October 2021) and are touring around Yorkshire’s top football clubs encouraging fans to learn the life-saving skill throughout October. Find out more, including CPR tutorial videos, at
www.restartaheart.yas.nhs.uk
The Restart a Heart campaign is supported by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity. Text CPRFIVE to 70085 to donate £5 to support our life-saving training.