Denmark team doctor: Christian Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest, "was gone"

June 13 (UPI) -- Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest and "was gone" before being resuscitated during a match this weekend, the team's doctor, Morten Boesen, said Sunday.

The 29-year-old Eriksen is in stable condition after he was transported to a hospital in Copenhagen on Saturday after he suddenly collapsed on the pitch during Denmark's Euro 2020 opener against Finland.

"He was gone, and we did cardiac resuscitation. It was a cardiac arrest," Boesen told reporters. "How close were we [to losing Eriksen]? I don't know.

"We got him back after one defib, so that's quite fast. I'm not a cardiologist, so the details I will leave to the experts at the hospital."

Boesen also noted that Eriksen may not have survived if the incident occurred outside of a major soccer tournament with top-class medical equipment available.

"That was completely decisive, I think," Boesen said. "The time from when it happens to when he receives help is the critical factor, and that time was short. That was decisive."

During Saturday's game between Denmark and Finland, Eriksen had just played a short pass when he fell face-first to the ground. He was given immediate medical attention for about 10 minutes and was eventually stretchered off the field.

The match was suspended in the 43rd minute after the incident and was resumed later in the day. Finland eventually earned a 1-0 win over Denmark, with Eriksen being named star of the match.

Eriksen competes at the club level for Serie A side Inter Milan. He moved to the Italian club after spending seven years with Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League.

Denmark's match against Finland was the first of Euro 2020 since the tournament was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.