Soccer’s Fabrice Muamba shows signs of improvement after collapse

The soccer player Fabrice Muamba who collapsed during an English Premier League match at the weekend has shown signs of improvement.

Associated Press in London says that the 23-year-old has begun breathing on his own and recognizing and responding to family members.  He is also regaining movement in his arms and legs.

Muamba collapsed on the pitch just before half time during an FA Cup tie between his team Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur with a cardiac arrest, and has spent two days in a critical condition in intensive care.

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According to The Guardian, Bolton issued a statement on Monday saying that though Muamba is still in intensive care, his condition was improving and he was breathing without using a ventilator. 

It added: "These are all positive signs of progress. However, his condition remains serious and the medical staff in intensive care will continue to monitor and treat him."

Meanwhile, Muamba's fiancee Shauna Magunda has used Twitter to appeal to fans the public to pray for his recovery, the Manchester Evening News reports. She wrote: "Please keep praying for @fmuamba its really helping I can feel it xx"

Fans have been leaving flowers, Muamba shirts and scarves at Bolton's Reebok stadium, SkyNews reports, and there have been displays of support in soccer stadiums across Europe.

It adds that a Premier League match against Aston Villa on Thursday has been postponed to allow Muamba's teammates "deal with the shock".

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