Watch: The Horrific Scene as a Soccer Player Suffers Cardiac Arrest During the Middle of a Match

Incidents of cardiac arrest have been on the rise, especially in sports. Speaking of the beautiful game, there have been many instances where its magic has been interrupted by the stark reality of life’s uncertainties. Today, a similar incident unfolded in the soccer world as a player suffered a cardiac arrest during an ongoing game. It happened during an Egyptian Premier League match between Al Ittihad (not the Saudi Arabian one) and Modern Future FC.

With the game deadlocked in a stalemate, Modern Future decided to bring on Ahmed Refaat, substituting Ali Mahmoud Fouad Zaza in the 61st minute. However, the tranquility of the match was shattered in the 88th minute when Refaat suddenly collapsed. Two Al Ittihad players quickly rushed to ensure Refaat’s wellbeing, while medics from both clubs hurried to attend to the fallen winger, who had lost consciousness.

There was suddenly a moment of chaos, as it felt like Refaat wasn’t responding. All the players on the pitch stood near Refaat while he was assessed by the medical team to shield the distressing scene from the cameras. Likewise, fans in the stadium stood in silence. As the ambulance quickly made its way to transport the 30-year-old to the hospital, the referee waited for the 4th official’s call to resume the match. The game ultimately ended in a stalemate.

Indeed, this is quite a shocking incident. While the reason for his sudden collapse remained a mystery, there is finally a long-awaited update on Refaat’s health.

A soccer physician provides an update on Ahmed Refaat’s condition

Thamer Al-Shahrani tweeted the statements of Ahmed Refaat’s doctors on X, revealing the gravity of the situation. As per the Riyadh-based physician, Refaat’s heart stopped for an hour and a half due to severe heart rhythm disturbances, including tachycardia, which rendered him unresponsive to electric shocks. Following this, Refaat was transferred to intensive care and remains in an unstable condition. While he has begun to regain some consciousness, his blood pressure remains low. 

With his vital functions also unstable, Refaat will be kept under the continuous evaluation and monitoring of the medical teams. Despite the challenges, his condition has improved compared to his initial state upon arrival. Currently, he is reliant on a ventilator for breathing, and efforts are underway to search for and treat the underlying causes of his tachycardia. But the good news is that the doctors are “optimistic” about Refaat’s condition.

Let’s hope the player makes a strong return to soccer, as we wish him a speedy recovery.

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