The hospital treating Bolton star Fabrice Muamba has confirmed
the player can now recognise family members and respond to their
questions.
Muamba: Condition has improved
Forty-eight hours after he collapsed during an FA Cup
quarter-final tie against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, where he
suffered a cardiac arrest, it is the clearest indication yet that
Muamba is winning his battle for life.
"Fabrice Muamba remains in intensive care at the London Chest
Hospital and is continuing to show signs of improvement this
evening," said the joint statement released by the London Chest
Hospital and Bolton.
"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.
"However, his condition remains serious and our medical staff in
intensive care will continue to monitor and treat him.
"His family and club would like to thank the media for
continuing to respect their privacy at this time."
The confirmation follows claims from Curtis Codrington, who says
he is a friend of Muamba and is one of only 83 people followed by
the player on social networking site Twitter, that he had started
speaking in French and English.
Bolton sources have told Press Association Sport that the
23-year-old has made considerable progress and the signs are
looking extremely positive for the player.
However, they are cautioning against over-optimism, pointing out
that it is not unknown for patients to plateau at this stage and
that Muamba remains wired up and is still officially on the
critical list.
Nevertheless, the latest updates are more than Bolton's anxious
players, staff and supporters dared hope as medics battled for two
hours to get Muamba's heart beating again after it stopped at White
Hart Lane.
The player's fiancee, Shauna Muamba, wrote on Twitter: "All your
prayers are working people thank u so so much. Every prayer makes
him stronger. To God be the glory."
Earlier, speaking for the first time since the game, Bolton
captain Kevin Davies said Muamba owed his life to the support he
received almost instantly.
"There is no doubt in my mind if it wasn't down to all those
people, we wouldn't even be in this situation," said Davies.
Bolton have not confirmed how long manager Owen Coyle intends to
maintain his own vigil for the player, although he is expected to
remain in the capital for a further two days.
That would throw into question Bolton's ability to fulfil
Saturday's scheduled Premier League game with Blackburn at the
Reebok Stadium.
The Lancashire derby may go a long way to determining whether
Bolton will remain in the Premier League this season.
It is understood there is enough flexibility within the fixture
schedule for that game to be postponed, although the rescheduled FA
Cup tie with Tottenham would take precedence in any rearrangement
and that would normally take place at some point next week.
However, that game is far from Coyle's mind at the moment.
"We are all after the same objective; to see that lovely young
man, who has such a fantastic smile. That's what we want to see
again," said the Scot this lunchtime.
"When you look through what he's come through in his life
already, he's a natural fighter.
"Also, he's a physically fit young man so I think those two
things will be a source of help and encouragement."
Muamba left his home in war-torn Congo in 1999 and was reunited
with his father, who had fled five years earlier and sought asylum
in Britain after becoming a target for rebels.
The 23-year-old has overcome such a difficult start in life to
become an England Under-21 international, joining Arsenal as a
youth team player, before moving onto Birmingham and then Bolton
for £5million in 2008.
Though not one of the most flamboyant players, Muamba was
amongst the most industrious, which just makes the shock at what
has happened even more acute for Bolton skipper Kevin Davies, who
spoke today for the first time since the weekend drama
unfolded.
"We all love Fabrice," said Davies.
"I respect him hugely for coming from where he was to where he
is now.
"He is one of the first into training and has worked extremely
hard to better himself. He is always out there doing a bit
extra.
"That is the reason why he has been so successful and has a
massive career ahead of him."
Bolton's players had a team meeting at their Euxton training
complex this morning to be given the latest bulletin.
They already knew the scheduled encounter with Aston Villa
tomorrow had been postponed.
However, Davies said Bolton's next game was the last thing on
his mind.
"Any of those questions are irrelevant at the minute," he
said.
"Decisions will have to be made but my immediate thoughts are
with Fabrice and his family.
"The club will take a stance on it in the next couple of days.
But at the minute we want to just try and help Fabrice."
