Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba has paid tribute to the London Chest Hospital staff after being discharged.
The 24-year-old was technically « dead » for 78 minutes after suffering a cardiac arrest and collapsing in a game against Tottenham on 17 March and had been in hospital since then.
« I am naturally very pleased to be discharged from hospital, » he said.
« I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to every single member of staff who played a part in my care. »
Muamba, pictured with Dr Andrew Deaner and Dr Sam Mohiddin of the Barts Health NHS Trust on his discharge, said: « 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. »
And in a joint press release issued by the Trust and his club, the midfielder continued: « Now I am out of hospital, I am looking forward to continuing my recovery and spending precious time with my family. »
Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle said: « It is absolutely fantastic news that Fabrice has been discharged from hospital and everyone at the club is delighted.
« 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, and we would ask the media to continue to respect their privacy. »
A spokesman for the Trust said: « Barts Health can confirm that Fabrice Muamba has now been discharged following several weeks of treatment. All our staff wish him the very best in his ongoing recovery. »
Muamba collapsed after 41 minutes of the FA Cup quarter-final tie with Spurs and was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and 15 defibrillator shocks before he arrived at the intensive care unit of the heart attack centre at the London Chest Hospital.
The former England Under-21 international was helped on the pitch by Deaner, consultant cardiologist at London Chest Hospital, who was at the game as a fan, and ran out of the stands to lend his expertise.
Last month, Trotters club doctor Jonathan Tobin said: « It was 48 minutes when he collapsed to reaching hospital and a further 30 minutes after that. He was, in effect, dead at that time.
« We were fearing the worst and didn’t think we would get the recovery we had. It’s incredible. »
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