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Daniel Engelbrecht: the footballer who plays with a heart defibrillator Daniel Engelbrecht: the footballer who plays with a heart defibrillator
(about 3 hours later)
When Daniel Engelbrecht came onto the pitch in the 76th minute for Stuttgarter Kickers in Germany last Saturday, he wasn’t able to prevent his team’s 1-0 defeat against FV Ravensburg. But for Engelbrecht, even 20 minutes in a cup game on a drizzly November afternoon felt like a major triumph.When Daniel Engelbrecht came onto the pitch in the 76th minute for Stuttgarter Kickers in Germany last Saturday, he wasn’t able to prevent his team’s 1-0 defeat against FV Ravensburg. But for Engelbrecht, even 20 minutes in a cup game on a drizzly November afternoon felt like a major triumph.
Last July the young striker collapsed on the pitch during a third division home game against Erfurt, and had to be given emergency resuscitation. Subsequent examinations showed he was suffering from an inflamed heart muscle and an abnormal heart rhythm. Now the 24-year-old has become the first German professional to play a match with a heart defibrillator. The small device, which is inserted just under the skin of the chest, monitors heart rhythms and can administer restorative electric shocks if anything goes wrong.Last July the young striker collapsed on the pitch during a third division home game against Erfurt, and had to be given emergency resuscitation. Subsequent examinations showed he was suffering from an inflamed heart muscle and an abnormal heart rhythm. Now the 24-year-old has become the first German professional to play a match with a heart defibrillator. The small device, which is inserted just under the skin of the chest, monitors heart rhythms and can administer restorative electric shocks if anything goes wrong.
In an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, Engelbrecht described what it had felt like to walk out on the pitch after the traumas of 2013. “Before the match, the fear was back, of course,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get rid of it. But being able to be on the pitch in another professional match is an indescribable feeling. It was a really big step for me. I am lucky to be still alive. Others in a similar situation have died. And after the diagnosis no one really believed that I’d ever be able to make a comeback. That makes it ever nicer that I’m able to say that I’m back.”In an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, Engelbrecht described what it had felt like to walk out on the pitch after the traumas of 2013. “Before the match, the fear was back, of course,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get rid of it. But being able to be on the pitch in another professional match is an indescribable feeling. It was a really big step for me. I am lucky to be still alive. Others in a similar situation have died. And after the diagnosis no one really believed that I’d ever be able to make a comeback. That makes it ever nicer that I’m able to say that I’m back.”
Most of the doctors had advised Engelbrecht against returning to the sport, but he told Süddeutsche that listening to them was never a serious option. “I would have never forgiven myself if I hadn’t tried. I’ve set myself this goal and given everything to get there,” he said. Most of the doctors had advised Engelbrecht against returning to the sport, but he told Süddeutsche that listening to them was never a serious option for him: “I would have never forgiven myself if I hadn’t tried. I’ve set myself this goal and given everything to get there.
“The last year was the worst in my life. I wasn’t allowed to do anything, no sport, no strain – certainly no stress. I had to live the life of an 80-year-old. Because of the drugs I was constantly tired, yet I couldn’t sleep properly at night.” “The last year was the worst in my life,” he added. “I wasn’t allowed to do anything: no sport, no strain – certainly no stress. I had to live the life of an 80-year-old. Because of the drugs I was constantly tired, yet I couldn’t sleep properly at night.”
In addition, Engelbrecht suffered from anxiety and panic attacks, and had to have counselling as a result. “There were phases when I had to take so many tablets that I suffered from hallucinations. When I woke up at night, I saw people walking through my room or sitting down beside my bed. It got so bad that I could no longer sleep on my own.” In addition, Engelbrecht suffered from anxiety and panic attacks, and had to have counselling as a result. “There were phases when I had to take so many tablets that I suffered from hallucinations,” he said. “When I woke up at night, I saw people walking through my room or sitting down beside my bed. It got so bad that I could no longer sleep on my own.”
The striker has been back in full training with Stuttgarter Kickers since 1 November. He can now play for spells of 20 minutes, though he says he is still too weak to play an entire match. Data collected by the defibrillator is analysed by doctors every day.The striker has been back in full training with Stuttgarter Kickers since 1 November. He can now play for spells of 20 minutes, though he says he is still too weak to play an entire match. Data collected by the defibrillator is analysed by doctors every day.
The former Belgian Under-21 defender Anthony Van Loo continued his career after being fitted with a defibrillator in 2008. In 2009, while playing in a match for the Belgian first division team KSV Roeselare, Van Loo collapsed, but the defibrillator was able to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm. The former Belgian Under-21 defender Anthony Van Loo continued his club career after being fitted with a defibrillator in 2008. In 2009, while playing in a match for the Belgian first division team KSV Roeselare, Van Loo collapsed due to a cardiac arrhythmia, but his defibrillator was able to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm.
Engelbrecht says playing with his “defi” still feels unfamiliar, not least because as a striker he often has to control the ball with his chest. “But I’m wearing some protection and with time I will hopefully get used to it. At the very least I’ve got the safe feeling that the defibrillator will bring me back to life.” Engelbrecht says playing with his “defi” still feels unfamiliar, not least because as a striker he often has to control the ball with his chest. “But I’m wearing some protection and with time I will hopefully get used to it.
“At the very least I’ve got the safe feeling that the defibrillator will bring me back to life.”