How Eriksen's heart device kicked into action

How Eriksen's heart device kicked into actionImage source, Getty ImagesByPhilippa RoxbyHealth reporterPublished8 June 2026Footballer Christian Eriksen says he is "doing well" at home with his family and has already started his recovery, after collapsing during an international match between Denmark and Ukraine on Sunday.The 34-year-old Dane, whose heart stopped following a cardiac arrest five years ago, was able to walk off the pitch after regaining consciousness - thanks to a tiny device implanted in his chest, called an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator).On social media, Eriksen posted: "My ICD did exactly what it was designed to do: protect me when I needed it."How does an ICD work?The ICD is a small life-saving device which detects problems with the heart's rhythm and immediately tries to correct them.It's a treatment rather than a cure.There are two main types of ICD - one is fitted under the skin, usually near the armpit and acts like a mini defibrillator with wires running under the skin to the chest. The other main type is connected directly to the heart and, like a pacemaker, also sends regular electrical signals if the heart is beating too slowly.In Eriksen's case, the ICD is likely to have delivered an electrical shock after detecting a dangerously fast or abnormal rhythm, to restore the heart to its normal pattern.And it would have been quite a jolt."It feels like being thumped in the chest," says Prof Aneil Malhotra, sports cardiologist at the Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University.Resetting the heart "is like switching a computer off and on again", he explains, adding that ICDs are "highly effective devices".In 2021, mid-match at the European Championships, Eriksen had a cardiac arrest - when blood stops pumping around the body. He collapsed and lost consciousness.Surrounded by concerned and emotional teammates, he was given CPR on the pitch, before a portab...