Footballer collapses and heart stops for 15 minutes for unknown reason | Football | Sport

A footballer who believed he was in perfect health survived for over 15 minutes without a heartbeat after collapsing on the pitch. Samuli Kukkonen, coaching Finnish second-tier side Jarvenpaan Palloseura, was warming up before a match when he suddenly fell to the ground due to a heart issue, without any prior warning.

The 27-year-old revealed: “After a few minutes, my team-mates realised I was not moving. So they gave me CPR and called an ambulance.” His heartbeat did not return for more than 15 minutes. Kukkonen explained: “I got CPR from my team-mates, and when the paramedics arrived, they used a defibrillator. After the second shock, my heart started working again.”

All Kukkonen can recall about the ordeal is waking up in a hospital in Helsinki, Finland, surrounded by his loved ones.

He shared with NeedToKnow: “They kept me there for two weeks to run tests and make sure I was fine.

“They put a pacemaker in me to help my heart, gave me medicine, and sent me home after the tests.”

This horrifying incident occurred back in May while Kukkonen was warming up with Jarvenpaan Palloseura, also known as JaPS, ahead of a lower-division match in Jarvenpaa.

Kukkonen describes his three-month recovery as “good for me”. He stated: “I had a lot of time to reflect on what happened, and I had great support from my family and friends to help me get back to life.

“My girlfriend and I have four dogs who helped me get back on my feet and into sports.”

Kukkonen started playing football at the tender age of four and began coaching when he was just 13. Since reaching adulthood, his focus has shifted more towards coaching, although he still plays, “more as a hobby to keep myself fit and socialise with friends”.

Despite considering himself fit and healthy, he had never encountered any health issues prior to the sudden cardiac arrest.

“The reason is still unknown,” he revealed. “What we know is that it has nothing to do with my lifestyle or choices. It is not a normal gene mutation, but it might be a rare mutation.”

Cardiologist Tapio Aalto shed light on how he survived for over 15 minutes without a heartbeat.

He informed local media: “With effective chest-compression and rescue-breathing resuscitation, it’s possible to maintain blood circulation enough to allow time for further measures.

“In this case, the shock from a defibrillator.”