Fabrice Muamba’s heart failed to beat on its own for two hours

FOOTBALLER Fabrice Muamba was fighting for his life in hospital last night after collapsing during an FA Cup tie.

Owen Coyle, the Scottish manager of Bolton Wanderers, said he hoped there would yet be a “happy outcome” for the player, but it yesterday emerged the 23-year-old’s heart had not started beating on its own for almost two hours after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch during Saturday’s match.

He fell to the ground at White Hart Lane at 6:11pm in front of the millions of television viewers watching the club’s quarter-final clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

Paramedics desperately tried to resuscitate him, but were unable to start his heart working by itself again until he reached London Chest Hospital at 8pm.

Last night, he remained in a critical condition as messages of goodwill poured in from across the footballing world. After visiting him in hospital, Coyle said: “Everybody is praying for Fabrice, which is very important and that has been a real source of strength to the family.

“It’s great to be talented at football, but it is more important to be a genuinely nice man and Fabrice is that.

“Our concern is Fabrice and Fabrice only, and that’s what all our energy is going into – hopefully a happy outcome.”

Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, then known as Zaire, in 1988, Muamba fled to the UK with his family when he was 11. He started his career at Arsenal and spent two years at Birmingham before joining Bolton in 2008.

Muamba is not the first player to suffer a heart attack while on the field – in 2007 Motherwell player Phil O’Donnell died after collapsing in a match against Dundee United. An autopsy revealed he had died of heart failure. Other players who died of heart failure include Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe and Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta.

In a statement yesterday, the London Chest Hospital said: “Fabrice received prolonged resuscitation at the ground and en route to the London Chest Hospital, where his heart eventually started working.

“As is normal medical practice, Fabrice remains anaesthetised in intensive care and will be for at least 24 hours. His condition continues to be closely monitored by cardiac specialists.”

Muamba’s friend, Arsenal defender Johan Djourou, and Spurs striker Jermain Defoe, who was in tears on the pitch seeing Muamba lying on the ground, were among those who visited the hospital yesterday.

Throughout the day, fans left tributes to Muamba outside the hospital and at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium.

A card with a Manchester United emblem read: “Our thoughts and prayers are with you. One game, one family.”

A Bolton flag bore the message: “Just get back to full health. Praying for you.”

Bolton confirmed the club had postponed its next fixture, the Premier League tie against Aston Villa which was due to take place tomorrow evening.

Last night, the hospital and club released a joint statement saying the player was still in a critical condition.

It said: “Fabrice Muamba remains in a critical condition in intensive care in the Heart Attack Centre at the London Chest Hospital.”

Meanwhile, a 21-year-old man from Pontypridd, South Wales, has been arrested after allegedly making racist remarks on Twitter relating to the player.