Blind discusses recovery from heart attack

The former Manchester United man is the latest guest on UTD Podcast and told hosts Helen Evans, Sam Homewood and David May that he shared a call with current Red Christian Eriksen, after the midfielder had his experience with Denmark at the European Championship in finals in 2021.

Blind, a team-mate of Christian's at Ajax, was in a perfect position to offer first-hand support and advice after making a great recovery, to the extent that he moved to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich during the January transfer window.

Blind's cardiac episode came in 2020, during a Champions League game against Valencia, and he was happy to relive the upsetting experience.

"The situation was that I had like a small heart attack," he declared. "That’s how it was and the moment when that happened, normally you go out but, for me, it was starting. The heart attack was starting, at one point, my heart-rate took over.

"My heart took, already took it back, the rhythm.  And that’s why I didn’t really went out, unconscious, but I could, after a few moments, I could step up.

"I was standing, I was running back. We had just had an attack," he recalled. "At that point, if you see the images, you see me and it was really like this, tumbling down and getting one hand on the floor. Then I was standing on the floor and, at that moment, my heart-rate was picked up again and getting more awake.

"The doctors came on and asked: 'What's happening? Are you okay?' And I said: 'Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just, I'm hungry. You know I could not link it with something to my heart. Of course, they did all the tests and everything and I was just normal.

"I remember, you know, this feeling where you are laying too much on the sofa and you stand up too quick and you get light-headed.

"This was this feeling but multiplied by 10, for example.  I just had a feeling like I’m hungry. I have no energy. I have to eat something and I had no idea it could have happened, anything with my heart or any condition like that.

"I even finished the game, which is even crazy. The most crazy part of it! I went to training, did the recovery session, and, at that point, the doctor came to me and said: 'Daley, I don't trust this and we need to go and make a medical in the hospital. Then we made the medical and I stayed there for two weeks."

Blind inevitably feared his career was over but has been able to continue playing, with a fitted defibrillator, and was understandably happy to share his experience with Eriksen in 2021.

"At one point, the doctor came in and tells you maybe you cannot play football ever again," he admitted. "A lot of people think, why are you bothered about it? You must be happy that you are okay but, for me, I think doing the thing you love, if it’s football or your job, and you can’t do that anymore, it’s painful.  

"So that was an emotional moment and I remember, from that moment, my dad [Danny] was also not giving up.  He was like asking the doctor directly every question he could ask. Like, what can we do?  What’s the possibility because he know how I was into the game. Like, I was not quitting or want to give up too quick.

"I think also him asking every question to the doctor inspired me also that much that I had no option of giving up.  I should try everything was escapable inside the range of being safe of course and doing that.  At one point I had this option to take an ICD and that was the solution in the end. I have it [the fitted defibrillator] on the side and, because of that, I can do the sports again, at the highest level.

"Directly after the thing that happened to him [Eriksen], we had contact directly and, of course, we knew each other already before so it was easier. And we have questions over and over and he asked me what I did, what I can do, and I think he went to the same doctor as I did in Amsterdam. So I was happy to help him in any way like that."

The conversations would certainly have had a positive effect on United's no.14, and Blind's determination not to quit and personal knowledge of the situation must have been a huge help.

"I think that, because of me, he saw what’s possible and I think that’s also maybe the reason why also he didn’t give up and show where he is now," added Blind.

"Of course, it would be brave if I say I wasn’t but, of course, you are thinking about maybe retiring.  I just had my son and my wife, of course, was there. I knew directly that I wouldn’t want to give up. Like you say, of course, sometimes you think about it like why am I doing this? I have  good life. I have a great career.  

"I can be proud of it and let’s enjoy the family but then the answer to the question yeah, if there is a chance of doing it safely why don’t you take the chance of trying?

"When that already came up in my mind, it was like, no option. It was like we try it and if, in the end, the doctors say there is no solution for you doing sports at the high level in a safe way, then yeah, okay. Of course, you have to stop.

"You have to go. It’s medical. But as soon as the doctor said we can manage it by some medicine, doing training or games and keep your heart-rate low, yeah we can try it and that was enough for me to try it."

Daley Blind's UTD Podcast is now available exclusively on ManUtd.com and in the United App for 24 hours. After this period, you can listen via all your usual podcast providers.