By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – Fabrice Muamba, the Premier League footballer who suffered a massive cardiac arrest and almost died during a cup game at Tottenham Hotspur in March, made an emotional return to the club’s White Hart Lane stadium for the first time yesterday.
Muamba (pictured top and below), whose heart stopped beating for 78 minutes after collapsing while playing for Bolton Wanderers, made a full recovery but was recently forced to retire from the game on doctors’ orders.
Muamba broke down in tears as he walked on to the pitch during the halftime interval at the Europa League match between Spurs and Maribor of Slovenia.
Pointing to the spot where he fell, he received a seven-minute standing ovation after declaring: “I can’t express…
“All I can say is thanks to the Tottenham fans the way they reacted.
“You were all fantastic and I will never forget.
“I just wanted to come and see that place one more time for closure.”
The medical teams of Spurs and Bolton treated Muamba for more than 20 minutes while cardiologist Andrew Deaner, a local fan, leapt from his seat to aid the stricken midfielder.
Muamba was rushed to hospital where he spent four weeks making a miraculous recovery.
The former England under-21 international, who carried the Olympic Torch in July, was invited to Zurich last month by FIFA President Sepp Blatter to discuss a possible ambassadorial role.
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