Fabrice Muamba announces retirement

15/08/2012

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24-year-old footballer Fabrice Muamba suffered a heart attack on the pitch in March 2012. In the UK the nation followed Fabrice's battle to survive. His plight touched us all. He was a young, apparently fit young man, with everything to live for. Fabrice fought hard and made a brief appearance at his home ground in Bolton, only seven-weeks after he had collapsed. It was great to see him looking so well but what of his hopes to return to football?

Today Fabrice has announced that he is retiring from the game.

Whilst football fans at Bolton and around the country will be sad to see Fabrice go, in some ways they will be glad. His near death experince left many people wondering how he could ever safely play the game again. Fabrice has been advised by his medical team that he should not and has wisely taken their advice.

In a statement Fabrice said of the medical advice, "While the news is devastating, I have much to be thankful for. I thank God that I am alive and I pay tribute once again to the members of the medical team who never gave up on me."

When Fabrice collapsed during the Bolton's FA Cup tie all most people cpould do was look omn in horror. Thankfully there was a cardiologist in the crowd, and he was able to advise and assist until Fabrice arrived at hospital.

When Fabrice suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch he was technically "dead" for 78 minutes. It took 15 defibrilator shocks to get his heart started again. A long period in hospital followed. In recent weeks emminent cardiologists have been consulted as to whether it would be safe for Fabrice to return to football. The consensus has been that it would not.

We will miss you Fabrice but best wishes are sent for the future.
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26-year-old Norwegian champion swimmer dies

01/05/2012

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A young Norwegian swimmer is reported dead today. 26-year-old  Alexander Dale Oen died in Arizona in the US whilst attending a training camp. The young swimmer was found dead in his bathroom Monday April 30, 2012. It is believed that he suffered a cardiac arrest.

The announcement was made Tuesday May 1, 2012 by Norwegian Federation President Per Rune Eknes.

2012 has already seen more deaths amongst sports people than usual from cardiac arrests. UK Footballer Fabrice Muamba suffered a massive cardiac arrest on the pitch during a game but thankfully he survived. Fabrice is defying the odds and recovering well. On April 15, 2012, 25-year-old Italian footballer Piermario Morosini died on the pitch after a cardiac arrest.

One has to wonder about the training, fitness tests and care of young athletes following these tragedies. Are we doing enough to protect them?

Tags: Norwegian Federation President Per Rune Eknes, swimmer dies, Fabrice Muamba, Alexander Dale Oen dies
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Fabrice Muamba - UK racist tweeter jailed for 56 days

27/03/2012

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When Bolton footballer Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch during a game, having suffered a heart attack, the fans held their breath. The nation almost as one wished the young football player well. One man at least was foolish or nasty enough to post a racist tweet. Today he has been convicted and sentenced to 56 days in jail.

The UK quite rightly does not stand for racism in any form. This case however does leave you wondering if the tweet was just one silly young man who did not think. Malicious racism has to be worse.

However though all racism is wrong.

In the past most tragedies have sooner or later been a target for "comedians". The UK is renowned for turning tragedy into jokes. On might quite rightly say, sometimes sick jokes. If the law is to act consistently these must surely also face the full force of the law. 

21-year-old student Liam Stacey posted abusive comments as the young football player laid fighting for his life on the pitch. It took the emergency services a great deal of time to restart his heart. Whilst all of this was going on Stacey tweeted, "LOL (laugh out loud). **** Muamba. He's dead!!!"  As if this was not bad enough he then went on to post racially abusive tweets directed at black users of Twitter.

The judge accepted that Liam had been drinking at the time of the tweets and took this into account when passing sentence. The judge however said he had also taken into account the general public's abhorrence of the tweets. Liam was jailed for 56 days and collapsed into a weeping heap at the news.

Stacey was a student at Swansea University. He had hoped to become a forensic scientist after gaining the necessary degree. Now his hopes have been shattered. He has been removed form the university course. A third year student he will not not be able to complete his degree course.


Excessive justice? Well the sentence sends out a clear message to other like minded individuals. The UK will not tolerate racism, full stop. Now the UK needs to live by this.
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Fabrice Muambas battle for life

18/03/2012

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When 23-year-old Bolton Midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed during the first half of a football match on March 17, 2012 it took emergency services two hours to restart the young footballer's heart. He collapsed during an FA Cup tie between Bolton and Tottenham and the events were watched by TV audiences at home as well as the match crowd of 36,000 football fans. As the drama unfolded it was plain to see that Fabrice was seriously ill.

Early yesterday evening it was confirmed that Fabrice had in fact suffered a heart attack and was receiving treatment in an intensive care unit. The footballer today remains in a critical condition. Fans and footballers in the UK have today, March 18, been paying tribute to Muamba, as he fights for his life.

At the time of his collapse no players were close by and there was no foul play involved. It appears to be just one of those sad incidents in life. An apparent healthy young man who you would probably least expect to fall ill, collapsing in such a way.

Sky News reported that," He has since been anaesthetised in intensive care and doctors say he will remain that way for at least 24 hours"

In a statement released on Monday evening, the hospital said:, "Fabrice Muamba is able to breathe without a ventilator, he has been able to recognise family members & respond to questions."

The Bolton team issued a statement saying, ."(We) can confirm that Fabrice Muamba has been admitted to the heart attack centre at London Chest Hospital where he is currently in a critically ill condition in intensive care. "No further information will be issued at this stage. The club has requested the media to respect his family's privacy at this time."

Fabrice was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, then known as Zaire. His family fled the country, moving to the UK. Fabrice proved to be a bright young man soon learning the English g. He excelled at school and left with 10 GCSEs as well as A-levels in French, maths and English. A firm believer in God Fabrice has in the past said, "God is the reason for everything he has done and accomplished."

Best wishes are sent to Fabrice for a good and speedy recovery.
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