Ammon News - Christian Eriksen was given emergency CPR on the pitch after collapsing just before half-time in Saturday's game between Denmark and Finland; team doctor Morten Boesen said 29-year-old was "gone", but swift intervention of Simon Kjaer and medical staff saved his life.

Christian Eriksen has expressed his thanks for the goodwill messages he has received after suffering a cardiac arrest during Denmark's Euro 2020 opener, and says he is "fine, under the circumstances".

Eriksen was given emergency CPR on the pitch during Saturday's game against Finland, which was temporarily suspended as the 29-year-old was taken to Rigshospitalet, a hospital near Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.

Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen said Eriksen was "gone", but swift treatment on the field of play and by hospital staff meant the midfielder was stabilised, and he was later able to send his greetings to team-mates.

Eriksen has now addressed the public for the first time since the incident via a tweet from the Danish FA's account, which read: "Hello everyone. Big thanks for your sweet and amazing greetings and messages from all around the world. It means a lot to me and my family.

"I'm fine - under the circumstances. I still have to go through some examinations at the hospital, but I feel okay.

"Now, I will cheer on the boys on the Denmark team in the next matches. Play for all of Denmark. Best, Christian."

On Sunday, Eriksen's agent said the Inter Milan player was "making jokes" in hospital but wanted answers from doctors to explain why he suffered a cardiac arrest during the game.

Martin Schoots told Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport: "We spoke this morning [Sunday]. He was making jokes, he was in a good mood, I thought he was well.

"We all want to understand what happened to him, and he does too. The doctors are making some in-depth tests, but we'll need some time.

"He was happy, because he understood how much love he has around him. He received messages from the whole world. And he was particularly struck by those in the Inter environment - not just his team-mates, who spoke to him in their private chat, but also the fans.

"Christian won't give up. Him and his family want to make sure that everybody receives their thanks. Half the world contacted us, everyone was worried. Now he only needs to rest. His wife and parents are with him.

"Even tomorrow [Monday], he will remain under observation, maybe Tuesday as well. But in any case he wants to support his team-mates against Belgium."

Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said it was "so damn nice" to be able to visit Eriksen in hospital, adding that the experience had helped him after the traumatic events on Saturday afternoon.

"It was damn nice to see him smile and laugh and be himself and just feel that he is there," Schmeichel told broadcaster DR. "It was a great experience and something that has helped me a lot."

Schmeichel said he and his countrymen were now determined to win the Euros for the former Tottenham man, explaining: "We're still in the tournament. Now we have to try to see if we can win this and do it for Christian and do it for all the fans who sat with us and were just as powerless in the situation as we were.

"I have no doubt that this team has the unity, the strength to be able to come together and go out and do something special."

Schmeichel's father, Peter, claimed Denmark's players did not want to restart the game against Finland, which Kasper appeared to agree with.

"We were put in a position I don't think we should have been put in," the younger Schmeichel said. "It probably required that someone above us had said that it was not the time to make a decision and maybe should wait for the next day."

The swift intervention of Denmark captain Simon Kjaer, who was one of the first people to attend to Eriksen after he collapsed, and the medical staff saved the midfielder's life.

"[Eriksen] was gone," Denmark's team doctor Boesen said. "We did cardiac resuscitation, it was a cardiac arrest. How close were we to losing him? I don't know but we got him back after one defib, so that's quite fast."

Eriksen's sudden collapse prompted Kjaer to clear his team-mate's airways and start the life-saving CPR technique, which was continued with the aid of a defibrillator by professional medical staff.

The Denmark captain's first aid skills proved vital and Eriksen is now recovering in hospital and considered to be out of danger.

CPR is quite easy to learn and it can be the difference between life and death before emergency medical services can arrive to help out.

*SKY