Simon Kjaer and the medical team who treated Christian Eriksen were named “true heroes of Euro 2020” and received a UEFA award. During Denmark’s Euro 2020 opener football match against Finland in June, Christian Eriksen collapsed on the ground and was reported of suffering cardiac arrest.
Kjaer was the first on the scene to place his teammate in the recovery position before leading his teammates in forming a protective screen while the Inter man received treatment. Kjaer and the medical team acted up quickly saving the Denmark player’s life, thus they have awarded the 2021 UEFA President’s Award.
The 29-year-old was taken to hospital and fitted with a pacemaker before returning home in spite of visiting Inter’s training ground in August. It is unclear if he will ever play again.
Kjaer, along with eight medics, has been hailed as the “true heroes of Euro 2020” and has received the award by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin for his exemplary leadership.
“This year, the President’s Award transcends football,” Ceferin said. “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.”
Before taking Eriksen off the pitch on a stretcher to rush him to the hospital, the medical team responded quickly resuscitating him after Kjaer had performed the initial CPR. “We rushed to the field to help [Christian] and to do our job,” said Mogens Kreutzfeldt, chief medical officer for Euro 2020 in Copenhagen.
“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.”
