Back from the dead, footballer Fabrice Muamba goes home

A MONTH ago today, Fabrice Muamba lay “dead” on the pitch at White Hart Lane. The Bolton midfielder’s heart stopped for 78 minutes after he collapsed during his side’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

But yesterday saw the 24-year-old make an important, if tentative, step on the road to recovery when he was discharged from hospital after an incredible fightback.

A smiling Muamba was pictured with the two doctors who had helped save his life as he left the London Chest Hospital.

The midfielder collapsed on the pitch in the first half of Bolton’s FA Cup quarter-final at Spurs on 17 March, with the game subsequently being abandoned.

The former England Under-21 international received treatment on the field before being taken to the London Chest Hospital. It later emerged that it took 78 minutes for his heart to start working unassisted.

Muamba, who has released several pictures of himself during his recovery, said: “I am naturally very pleased to be discharged from hospital and would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to every single member of staff at the London Chest Hospital who have played a part in my care.

“Their dedication, professionalism and expertise is simply amazing and I will forever be in their debt.

“I also wish to say thank you to all the many well-wishers who have sent thousands of messages of support. Now I am out of hospital, I am looking forward to continuing my recovery and spending precious time with my family.”

In a photograph released by his club, Muamba was pictured shaking hands with Dr Andrew Deaner, the cardiologist and Tottenham fan who leapt from his seat in the crowd and rushed on to the pitch to help, as well as consultant cardiologist Dr Sam Mohiddin, both from Barts Health NHS Trust.

Bolton Wanderers Scottish manager Owen Coyle said: “It is absolutely fantastic news that Fabrice has been discharged from hospital and everyone at the club is delighted.”

Muamba’s collapse shocked football, reminding fans of previous incidents such as the death of Motherwell player Phil O’Donnell, who died in 2007 after suffering heart failure in a match against Dundee United.

At the weekend, Italian player Piermario Morosini died after suffering a heart attack during a Serie B match between Livorno and Pescara. He was just 25.

David Clark, chief executive of the charity Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, said Muamba’s recovery had been “remarkable”.

He said: “Fabrice Muamba has clearly been a very fit young man to begin with, but he never would have survived had it not been for the expert help available at the time, including the cardiologist in the crowd who rushed to his aid. I have never heard of someone whose heart has stopped for so long who has gone on to make this kind of recovery.”

It is unclear whether Muamba will be able to return to playing football at the top level – other players who have survived cardiac arrests have not been able to continue playing professionally.

After he was discharged, Muamba’s fiancee Shauna Magunda, who has tweeted regularly during his recovery, wrote on Twitter: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen – Hebrew 11:1. God was and always is in control.”