Muamba critical after collapse; 1 arrested for racist tweet

Paramedics and doctors worked on fallen footballer Fabrice Muamba for 2 hours before his heart began beating on its own again, a statement from his soccer team read today.

The 23-year-old midfielder with Bolton Wanderers suffered a heart attack near the midway point of Saturday’s game against Tottenham Hotspurs.

Medics rushed to his side and quickly started CPR before carrying him off the field on a stretcher.

“Fabrice received prolonged resuscitation at the ground and on route to The London Chest Hospital, where his heart eventually started working,” a statement on the team’s website read. “As is normal medical practice, Fabrice remains anaesthetized in intensive care and will be for at least 24 hours.

“His condition continues to be closely monitored by the cardiac specialists at the hospital.”

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While much of the world expressed shock and sadness, police arrested a 21-year-old man from Wales for an alleged racist tweet aimed at Muamba, who is from Congo.

According to The Daily Mail, the comments came from the now-closed Twitter account @liamstacey9.

The man – who said his Twitter account was hacked – is thought to be a Swansea University student.

“We disassociate ourselves from any racist remarks,” a university spokesman told The Daily Mail. “We are an equal opportunities university and will be looking into this matter. We will of course cooperate fully with any police investigation.”

Bolton postponed its English Premier League match on Tuesday.

The team’s manager said Muamba faces a difficult battle ahead.

“Fabrice is critically ill,” Own Coyle told The Telegraph. “The next 24 hours are going to be absolutely crucial. We’ve obviously been inundated with people wishing him well and we hope that if everybody can pray strongly tonight that Fabrice is able to recover.”

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