Cardiac Arrest Scare as Kalu Survives Collapse in French Ligue 1
Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report
Barely one month after Denmark’s Christian Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest and was rescued during a Euro 2020 game with Finland, providence and timely intervention also saved Nigerian player, Samuel Kalu from similar circumstance.
Kalu, a French Ligue 1 winger with Bordeaux collapsed yesterday on the pitch before making an astonishing recovery and even continued playing against Marseille for several minutes before he was substituted.
The 23-year-old Nigerian dropped to the ground just five minutes into their Ligue 1 clash with Marseille amid soaring temperatures at the Stade Velodrome.
According to reports from France, there was instant concern for Kalu as players from both sides frantically called for medical attention.
To prevent panic from fans at the stadium and million others watching the Ligue 1 encounter on television around the world, players from both teams formed a human shield around Kalu as he was being treated on the field in scenes similar to which was seen when Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest.
However, Kalu made an astonishing recovery and was able to get up to his feet.
The Nigerian international was walked off the pitch by his teammates while holding an ice pack against his head.
Even more astonishingly, Kalu then returned to carry on playing despite what had just happened.
Common sense seemed to prevail though as the matter was taken out of his hands when he was substituted for Remi Oudin.
Kalu was then given a standing ovation by those in attendance for his brave attempts to play on following his collapse.
The cause of the incident is not yet known but it is not the first time he has collapsed on a football pitch.
Kalu had similarly collapsed during the Nigerian team’s training session during the AFCON 2019 in Egypt.
He’s expected to undergo medical checks at Marseille before continuing his pro career at the French club.
There was no immediate response from the French club on the incidence as at press time.
