Christian Eriksen issues first public statement after on-pitch cardiac arrest

The Inter Milan midfielder required 13 minutes of CPR after collapsing during Denmark vs Finland.

Christian Eriksen has released his first statement since suffering a cardiac arrest whilst playing for Denmark at the European Championships. The ex-Tottenham player collapsed just before half-time in his Denmark side's clash with Finland, and was given CPR on the pitch. He has now thanked fans and teammates for their support and concern, adn promised to get to the bottom of why and how he experienced such as sudden and serious health issue. His short statement was released to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport viah his agent. It reads: "Thank you, I won't give up. I feel better now - but I want to understand what's happened.

"I want to say thank you all for what you did for me."

Eriksen is still being looked after in hospital, with his family by his side. He has been visited by Denmark captain Simon Kjaer and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. He has been in contact with some of his team-mates at both Denmark and Inter Milan over FaceTime, apparently joking that he is "ready to train." The Denmark manager, Kasper Hjulmand, said that Eriksen is more concerned about how his team and family are doing. His agent said: "Now he just has to rest, with him are his wife and parents.

"He will remain under observation. But in any case he wants to cheer on his team-mates against Belgium."

His team-mate Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has also spoken about the moment he collapsed, saying that his "eyes were white." The Spurs midfielder said: "I saw Christian lying there and looking towards the field. His eyes were white and I thought it looked very strange. I saw Simon Kjaer rush off, and then you start thinking what it is. I walked slowly across the bench.

"More and more first aiders came over, and I could see Simon waving his arms. I stood for a long time with the coaches and talked, and I could see that there are some arms that move with the first aid. That was creepy."