London - Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba was finally discharged from
a London hospital on Monday following his recovery from a cardiac
arrest on the pitch.
The 24-year-old was left fighting for his
life after collapsing during the first half of Bolton's FA Cup
quarter-final at Tottenham on March 17, which was subsequently
abandoned.
The Kinshasa-born star's heart stopped for 78 minutes
as medics battled to keep him alive at the stadium and then in the
London Chest Hospital, but he has since made rapid progress and will now
be taking it easy with his family.
"I am naturally very pleased
to be discharged from hospital and would like to take this opportunity
to pay tribute to every single member of staff at the London Chest
Hospital who have played a part in my care," Muamba said in a statement.
"Their
dedication, professionalism and expertise is simply amazing and I will
forever be in their debt. I also wish to say thank you to all the many
well-wishers who have sent thousands of messages of support.
"Now I am out of hospital, I am looking forward to continuing my recovery and spending precious time with my family."
A
spokesperson for the local health trust confirmed that Muamba had been
discharged and all their staff wished him the very best in his bid to
return to playing football again.
His discharge from hospital
comes two days after the death of Italian footballer Piermario Morosini,
aged just 25, who suffered a heart-attack while playing for Livorno
against Pescara in the second-tier Serie B.
Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle welcomed Muamba's release.
"It is absolutely fantastic news that Fabrice has been discharged from hospital and everyone at the club is delighted," he said.
"We
would also like to add our thanks to the staff at the London Chest
Hospital for their care and treatment of Fabrice, which has been
outstanding.
"It is important that Fabrice and his family are now given time and space to be together."
Muamba
was born in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo but came to
Britain at the age of 11, going on to represent his adopted England at
under-21 level.
He celebrated his 24th birthday in hospital on
April 6, buoying fans of the club and his many well-wishers around the
world who had responded to his collapse and treatment with an outpouring
of support.
Bolton are in the English Premier League relegation zone, with six games to go.
They have won two and lost three since Muamba's collapse.
- AFP