Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest prompts Lewes school to launch CPR classes

The Denmark captain has been fitted with a heart-starting device after collapsing on the pitch in his side's match against Finland in Copenhagen on June 12.

Following the events, Lewes Old Grammar School has trained children to issue CPR and use a defibrillator - as well as instructing people around them to do the same.

READ MORE: Amazing tribute to Christian Eriksen from boy whose dad suffered a cardiac arrest

The school’s health manager and qualified paramedic Alex Sharkey said millions of people watching the “terrible sight” of the footballer having a cardiac arrest live on TV will hopefully raise awareness of how effective and simple CPR is.

“Anyone, including children, can do it,” he said. “We felt that it was an obvious step to make sure that any pupil that attends the school knows how to do it and explain how to do it to others.

“One of the first things we tell the children is how to stay calm. We explain about being aware of your mental bandwidth and how to focus on the job they are doing.

“We then take them through a practical CPR lesson and drill on the stages they must memorize so that if the time ever came to use it, it would come naturally.”

The school plans to set aside one afternoon every year to remind pupils of the technique and introduce it to incoming Year 7s.

Lewes Old Grammar School students at CPR classes

“Eriksen’s arrest shows that this can happen to anyone, even the fittest of people. You just never know who it will happen to,” Alex added.

“The fact that his team mates had to see him go through it is a reminder that a colleague, friend or loved one could be next, so it really pays to know how to handle it.”

According to the Resuscitation Council UK, NHS Ambulance Services attempt cardiac arrest resuscitation in approximately 30,000 people each year.

Half of all cardiac arrests are witnessed by a bystander, while bystander CPR is attempted in 7 out of 10 cases.