Muamba collapse sparks memories

Published Monday, 19 March 2012
Comments
Toggle font size
Print

The sight of medical teams battling to save the life of Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba re-kindled painful memories for the family of Tyrone GAA star Cormac McAnallen.

Video available to UK viewers only.
We’re sorry. This video is unavailable from your location.

To find out if this video is available to you, we need to know what region you live in. Please enter your postcode below (including space).

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for confirming your region.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are sorry but this video is not available on u.tv in your region. Your region is listed below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you in Northern Ireland?

1. Why is my postcode required?

We are asking you to insert your postcode before watching some videos to confirm you can access the video content via u.tv.

This is because some videos on u.tv are only available in Northern Ireland.

Don't worry, we won't store or use this information for any other purpose.

If you are not in Northern Ireland, the content may be available to watch at itv.com or stv.tv.

2. Why am I directed to itv.com or stv.tv when I try to view certain clips?

The videos, which are not available on u.tv to users outside Northern Ireland, will be available to those users on itv.com (for users in England and Wales) or stv.tv (for most users in Scotland).

We need to know where you are in order to make sure you are getting the right content.

If you think we've got your location wrong, then please click here.

Need more help? Contact us

Eight years ago, the Gaelic Football All-star winner died suddenly of an undetected heart condition at the age of 24.

His mother Bridget told UTV: "There were definite echoes of when Cormac died, the fact that this man collapsed from a heart condition."

She said the many tributes paid to Muamba and the respect shown from the spectators reminded her of the overwhelming support her family received after Cormac's shock death.

Bridget added: "I was very surprised and pleased to see that, and it reminded me of how Cormac was treated.

"Of course there's one major difference in that the life of this footballer has been saved so far - although we don't know what his state of health is going to be after this - and unfortunately there was no way of saving Cormac that night."

Fabrice Muamba remains in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital and is continuing to show signs of improvement.

London Chest Hospital and Bolton statement

The McAnallen family set up The Cormac Trust in his memory the year after he died.

Its aims include raising awareness of conditions causing Sudden Cardiac Death in the young, the promotion of cardiac screening to detect such conditions and the provision of defibrillators in sports clubs.

"All together we have donated 80 defibrillators to sports clubs, to leisure centres, to voluntary ambulances, fire stations and lifeboats and so on.

"We had decided from the very beginning that it was very important to raise awareness of these conditions and to call for people to get screened - to try and help people in any way we could to get screened so we've been doing that as well."

Muamba, a 23-year-old father of one, showed signs of improvement on Monday at London Chest Hospital.

"He is now able to breathe independently, without the aid of a ventilator and he is able to recognise family members and respond to questions appropriately. These are positive signs of progress," said the joint statement released by the London Chest Hospital and Bolton on Monday evening.

"However, his condition remains serious and our medical staff in intensive care will continue to monitor and treat him."

© UTV News
Comments Comments
0 Comments
No comments. Be the first to comment.
POST A COMMENT:
Name:  
Email address*:    
Location:  
Validation:
House Rules:  
Your Comment:  
[All comments are moderated and will not appear immediately. Your name, location and comment will be displayed on this page if your post passes moderation.]
MOST POPULAR GALLERIES
On the rocks
Wed 01 May 2013
4x4 in Ballycastle harbour
Thu 02 May 2013