Danish footballer Christian Eriksen has thanked well-wishers from around the world after suffering a cardiac arrest during his team’s opening Euro 2020 game.

The midfielder posted a picture of himself smiling from his hospital bed, giving a thumbs up.

In the message posted to the Danish football association’s Twitter account, he said: “Big thanks for your sweet and amazing greetings and messages from all around the world. It means a lot to me and my family.

A message from @ChrisEriksen8.
♥️🤍 pic.twitter.com/WDTHjqE94w

“I’m fine – under the circumstances. I still have to go through some examinations at the hospital, but I feel okay.

“Now, I will cheer on the boys on the Denmark team in the next matches.

“Play for all Denmark.”

The 29-year-old collapsed to the ground around 40 minutes into Denmark’s game against Finland, at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, on Saturday.

Medics attended Eriksen after being quickly ushered onto the field by English referee Anthony Taylor, while Denmark captain Simon Kjaer made what has been hailed as a life-saving intervention by securing his neck, clearing his airways and starting CPR.

Danish players then formed a ring around their teammate and comforted Eriksen’s partner, who appeared distraught as she went on to the pitch.

The Inter Milan star was attended quickly by medics who, as stunned spectators in the stadium and millions more television viewers around the continent watched in horror, worked to resuscitate him.

Doctors later confirmed he had suffered a cardiac arrest.

The British Heart Foundation defines a cardiac arrest as “when your heart suddenly stops pumping blood around your body”.

The match resumed later that evening with Finland eventually securing a 1-0 victory.

Inter Milan midfielder Eriksen, who spent seven years in English football with Tottenham, has received messages of support from footballers, fans, politicians and royals.

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