Fabrice Muamba faces crucial 24 hours, says boss Owen Coyle
Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba faces a crucial 24 hours in his fight for life, manager Owen Coyle has said.
The 23-year-old remains critically ill after collapsing during an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Tottenham.
He is being treated in the intensive care unit of the heart attack centre at the London Chest Hospital.
Coyle said: "It's very serious. There's no getting away from that. God willing, he makes it through."
Medics spent six minutes trying to resuscitate the former England under-21 international on the field after he fell to the ground with no other players around him.
MUAMBA FACTFILE
- Born on 6 April 1988 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Progressed through Arsenal's youth academy, representing England at every level from under-16 to under-21
- Joined Birmingham in 2007, having been there on loan previously, then moved to Bolton the following year
- Appeared at the 2011 European Under-21 Championship in Denmark for England Under-21s, for whom he made 33 appearances
"We've obviously been inundated with people wishing him well and we hope that if everybody can pray strongly tonight that Fabrice is able to recover."
The club and the hospital issued a joint statement at 2130 GMT on Saturday saying: "Bolton Wanderers can confirm that Fabrice Muamba has been admitted to the Heart Attack Centre at the London Chest Hospital where he is in a critically ill condition in intensive care.
"The club and hospital request that the media and public respect the family's privacy at this time."
Members of Muamba's family and his fiancee attended the hospital on Saturday night.
Medical staff gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to Muamba, who was born in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) but moved to England aged 11, and tried to revive him with a defibrillator.
In total, six medics were treating the player, who joined Wanderers from Birmingham in 2008 and has made 148 appearances for the club.
PLAYERS' MESSAGES ON TWITTER
"Praying for you Fab. Hope he's OK. Thoughts with him and his family. For all those asking, I know as much as you do. Waiting anxiously for updates from teammates. Fab is a fighter!" Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden"Pray for Fab. God willing he will pull through." Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe
"All our hearts with Fabrice Muamba, one of my closest friends at Bolton. I'm shocked, wishing him a fast recovery." Wigan's former Bolton goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi
"Hope Fabrice Muamba is OK. Praying for him and his family. Still in shock." Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney
"Doesn't matter who you support. Doesn't matter if you aren't a football fan. Doesn't matter if you aren't religious. Pray for Fabrice Muamba." Tottenham defender Kyle Walker
"I'm so sad about what happened to Fabrice Muamba today. Played with him for a couple of years. What a great guy. Always a smile on his face. Please Fabrice bring that smile back. My thoughts are with you and your lovely family!" Arsenal captain Robin van Persie
Both sets of supporters chanted
Muamba's name as he was taken off the pitch on a stretcher. ESPN, who
were broadcasting the match, reported that he was not breathing as he
was taken into the tunnel.
Referee Howard Webb called the visibly shaken players
off the field after consulting with Coyle and Tottenham boss Harry
Redknapp.
After Muamba was taken to hospital, the match was abandoned.
The former Arsenal midfielder was accompanied in the ambulance by Coyle and club captain Kevin Davies.
Football Focus presenter Dan Walker had an exchange of text messages with Davies on Saturday evening.
"Encouragingly, he [Davies] said Fabrice is showing real fight which is the best possible news," Walker said.
"Kevin says he is not giving up and he's digging in and showing a bit of battle.
"The fact they got him breathing again makes you marvel at the work these paramedics, doctors and nurses do."
Use accessible player and disable flyout menus
Arsenal defender Johan Djourou, who played with Muamba at the Gunners,
posted on Twitter
that he had visited his friend in hospital.
BBC 5 Live's Ian Dennis, who was commentating on the game, describes what he saw.
"Just left the hospital. Love you so much man! Keep fighting. Everybody please pray for him he's an amazing man and friend."
BBC Radio 5 live's chief football reporter Ian Dennis, who was covering the game at White Hart Lane, witnessed medics rushing to aid Muamba.
"When the medical staff arrived his face was on the turf," he said.
"You could see them using a defibrillator and he was [electronically] charged on at least two occasions. Everyone could see Fabrice Muamba was fighting for his life.
"If he does pull through it will be down to the quick actions of the medics."
Soon after the incident, messages of support flooded in for the former Birmingham player.
Spurs' Rafael van der Vaart was one of those on the pitch when Muamba collapsed. He tweeted: "Terrible what happened with Muamba during the game. We're all praying for him."
England international Jack Wilshere, who played with Muamba at Bolton, wrote: "Hope Muamba is OK. Thoughts with him."
Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte, who played in the Arsenal youth team with Muamba, said: "I seriously hope my best friend in football is OK. Stay strong bro, please please stay strong. God is with you remember that."
A spokesman from Muamba's former club Birmingham said: "The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Fabrice and his family.
"He was a very popular member of the club during his time here and everyone at St Andrew's is shocked and saddened to see what happened."
Former Blues chairman David Gold Tweeted: "Fabrice Muamba is one of the nicest and most respectful young men I ever met in football. I'm thinking of you Fab, get well soon."
