I Won't Give Up

Denmark captain thanks public for their support and vows to keep playing after cardiac arrest

- Mark Jones And Tara Fitzpatrick

Stricken Denmark star Christian Eriksen has sent his first public message since suffering a terrifying cardiac arrest on the pitch on Saturday.

He told fans he “feels better” and “won’t give up” following the horrific incident during the first half of the group stage match against Finland in Copenhagen.

Danish captain Eriksen required CPR when he collapsed on the park.

On Sunday, doctors confirmed the Inter Milan star was “gone” for a short period before medics were able to revive him. He was then taken to hospital.

Eriksen’s Danish team-mates formed a privacy ring around him while he was being treated on the pitch.

In a short statement released through his agent, Eriksen yesterday thanked fans for their good wishes.

He said: “Thank you, I won’t give up. I feel better now – but I want to understand what has happened.

“I want to say, ‘Thank you all for what you did for me.’”

Eriksen also sent a short message to his Denmark team-mates from hospital to reassure them that he was fine.

The match was temporarily halted and when the teams returned to the pitch a couple of hours later, Finland pulled off a surprise 1-0 victory.

Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen said Eriksen’s medical results have so far been normal.

“The exams that have been done so far look fine,” Boesen told a news conference.