Footballer Wessam Abou Ali, 22, awake but ‘shocked’ in hospital after collapsing on pitch in ‘horrible experience’
FOOTBALLER Wessam Abou Ali is awake but 'shocked' in hospital after collapsing on the pitch on Saturday.
The Dane was rushed to hospital after the heart-wrenching incident occurred while he was playing for second-division side Vendyssel FF against Lyngby.
And fortunately, the 22-year-old has recovered enough to update concerned football fans around the world with a statement on Instagram.
He wrote: "HUGE THANK YOU.
"Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to call, write etc.
"Thank you for all the thoughts, prayers, and warmth you have sent. It has been absolutely amazing to wake up to so much support, support and love.
"The whole thing is just is big shock and very surreal right now.
"Despite all this, I'm okay under the circumstances. I am recovering, and in good hands.
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"Now a long tough move awaits in the battle to get back to 100 per cent. I look forward to coming back even stronger, hopefully without too long a wait.
"THANK YOU first and foremost to all the players from both Vendsyssel and Lyngby, who reacted quickly and set in motion the great help to me.
"Equally big thanks must go to all the doctors and staff on the pitch, who with urgent notice were ready to help me, and bring me into a stable condition.
"I am all of you INCREDIBLY grateful, it is something I really appreciate, both the doctors and ALL involved.
"Thanks to the ambulance people, doctors and everyone who has now made me recover, and made this whole horrible experience a whole lot easier.
"To everyone who was at the stadium, I just want to express my greatest respect for carrying myself through this with the greatest support - Thank you so much for that.
"I'm in good hands. So you do not have to shy away from looking at my face yet.
"Remember to love those who are around you, and even more enjoy yourself and be thankful for everything we have.
"THANK YOU - LOVE TO EVERYONE."
'EMERGENCY TREATMENT'
The forward collapsed around the hour mark in front of shocked players and supporters.
Abou Ali quickly received emergency treatment on the field as players formed a barrier around him.
And after remaining on the field for 10 minutes, Abou Ali was whisked away to hospital as the game was abandoned.
The former AaB and Silkeborg star only joined Vendyssel at the start of the month, penning a five-year deal after spending time there on loan in 2019.
Abou Ali is a former Denmark U19 international and scored 11 goals in 22 games during his last spell at Vendyssel.
The sad scenes come just three months after Danish star Christian Eriksen collapsed during Euro 2020.
The Inter Milan playmaker suffered a cardiac arrest during his country's opening group stage game against Finland.
And after receiving life-saving treatment on the field, Eriksen is now doing well after being fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
'IMPORTANT CHECK'
However, the Italian FA said in July that the Dane would need it to be removed in order to play for Inter again.
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Eriksen is now set for an important check-up in October which could allow him to remove the ICD.
But the tests may also see the Dane needing to keep the device permanently.