Medics who treated Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen at Euro 2020 to receive UEFA President's Award
The medical staff that performed life-saving treatment on Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen when he collapsed on the field during the Euro 2020 tournament will be awarded with the UEFA President's Award.
Eriksen, 29, collapsed during a June 12 match against Finland and was later taken to the hospital, where he was stabilized. The Danish team doctor later said that Eriksen had suffered a cardiac arrest.
"You did a fantastic job and saved my life," Eriksen said Tuesday in a statement about the medics who treated him.
Recipients of the award include the on-site medical team (chief medical officer Mogens Kreutzfeldt; stadium medical manager Frederik Flensted; pitchside emergency doctor Anders Boesen, and paramedic Peder Ersgaard), UEFA Venue Medical Officers Jens Kleinefeld and Valentin Velikov and the Danish national medical team (physiotherapist Morten Skjoldager and team doctor Morten Boesen).
Denmark and AC Milan defender Simon Kjær, the captain of the Danish national team, will also be honored.
UEFA announced the award Tuesday.
"This year, the President’s Award transcends football," UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said Tuesday in a statement. "It serves as an important and eternal reminder of just how precious life is and puts everything in our lives into the clearest perspective."
"I would also like to send my very best wishes to Christian Eriksen and his family as he continues his recovery."
During the match, Eriksen had been walking near the sideline during the 43rd minute during a throw-in when he appeared to stagger and then fall forward to the pitch. Upon seeing Eriksen collapse, some teammates called and gestured to trainers on the sideline to rush in for assistance. Referee Anthony Taylor immediately blew the whistle and stopped play.
Some players looked visibly upset and in tears as trainers appeared to perform chest compressions and CPR on Eriksen as he lay on the turf. Players formed a circle to block out cameras and offer privacy as Eriksen received treatment. Medics spent about 10 minutes treating Eriksen on the field.
"We rushed to the field to help (Christian) and to do our job," UEFA chief medical officer Mogens Kreutzfeldt said in a statement. "We did what we should, what we were taught, what we were trained to do."
"Everybody knew their role, everybody knew what to do. We were not emotional at the scene. Afterwards, we were, of course, like everybody. We’re very happy and proud of the outcome."
Eriksen later underwent a successful operation and was discharged from the hospital June 18.
UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, is the governing body of European soccer.
Kjær, 32, was one of the first people who reached Eriksen after his collapse. Kjær started the treatment by putting Eriksen in a recovery position and initiated the CPR process and also led Denmark's players to form a circle around Eriksen to provide privacy while medics treated him.
"It's something that will stay with us for the rest of our lives," Kjær said in a statement. "The team reacted as a unit…as a team, we made the maximum effort to stick together and try to get through that situation and be as helpful as possible."
Eriksen has made more than 100 appearances for the Danish national team and plays for Inter Milan, the current Italian champions.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Medics who saved Christian Eriksen to get UEFA President's Award
