UEFA has announced that Denmark captain Simon Kjaer and the medical crew that was present in Copenhagen will receive the UEFA President’s Award 2021. They will be awarded due to them coming to Christian Eriksen’s aid when he collapsed on the field due to a cardiac arrest.
🏅 This week, Denmark captain Simon Kjær and the medical team that saved the life of Christian Eriksen will receive the 2021 UEFA President’s Award.#UEFAawards
— UEFA (@UEFA) August 24, 2021
Denmark played Finland in their first match of the Euros on the 12th of June 2021 at Copenhagen. Before the end of the first half, midfielder Christian Eriksen suddenly collapsed on the field. It was a scene of sudden shock and horror, as players swarmed him so that their privacy was not invaded. The medical team timely resuscitated him using CPR techniques and a defibrillator. He was moving before going to a hospital nearby. He was revived and is now thankfully, healthy.
UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin described them as “true heroes of Euro 2020”. He said, “This year, the President’s Award transcends football,” he said. “It serves as an important and eternal reminder of just how precious life is and puts everything in our lives into the clearest perspective.”
Mogens Kreutzfeldt, chief medical officer for UEFA EURO 2020 in Copenhagen says that they rushed to the field to do their job and did what they were supposed to do but we’re very happy with the outcome.
Kjaer, the captain got it for starting the CPR procedure and forming a ring to protect Eriksen while he was given urgent medical attention. Eriksen has thanked the medical team present during that day, along with Kjaer and the national team for their support and help.
Recipients of the 2021 UEFA President’s Award:
On-site medical team
Mogens Kreutzfeldt (chief medical officer)
Frederik Flensted (stadium medical manager)
Anders Boesen (pitchside emergency doctor)
Peder Sarsgaard (paramedic)
UEFA Venue Medical Officers
Jens Kleinfeld
Valentin Velikov
Danish national medical team
Morten Skjoldager (physio accompanying the team doctor)
Morten Boesen (team doctor)
Simon Kjær (Denmark national team captain)
