God, Prayer and Football

Prayers were said for Muamba 'from Bolton to Barcelona...'

Well, the United Kingdom might be the World's newest atheist State according to some, but that is news to others.

Recent days have seen tabloid newspapers with words like 'God is in Control' and 'Pray for Muamba' emblazoned across the front page.

British people and the World has responded with prayer for the young footballer who apparently basically died on the football pitch, only to be brought back to life an hour later and find himself in hospital, though reports are now emerging that the player is 'fine'.

The Telegraph is reporting his recovery as 'miraculous' since these are the words used by his doctor...

Dr Andrew Deaner described Muamba's recovery as "miraculous" after he was effectively brought back from the dead after the player's heart had stopped for over an hour.

"If you're going to use the term miraculous, I guess it could be used here," said Dr Deaner.

Muamba, 23, remains in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital where he had been in a critical state since Saturday evening. However, early signs of a recovery continue and the footballer on Monday night told Bolton's team doctor Jonathan Tobin he was "fine".

Dr Jonathan Tobin, who visited Muamba on Monday evening, said: "I'm glad to say that the early signs of recovery have continued. I went to see Fabrice last night. I went in and he said 'Hi, doc.' "I asked him how he was and he said 'Fine'." 

Dr Tobin said the player had asked him what had happened. "I explained to him what had happened," he said. "That's the sort of level of communication I have had with Fabrice."

It took 15 shocks to get the player's heart started after he collapsed, he said. Speaking at the hospital in Bethnal Green, east London, he told of his reaction when he first realised the player was in trouble. Going through his head was the thought "Oh my God, it's Fabrice", he said.

He described how a paramedic had held his hips as he stood in the ambulance trying to treat the footballer on the way to the hospital.

Medics worked on Muamba for 48 minutes between his collapse and arrival at the hospital, Dr Tobin said. At the hospital, doctors worked on him for another 30 minutes before his heart started beating again. "In effect, he was dead in that time," Dr Tobin said.

Dr Tobin admitted he broke down in tears in the hospital corridor when the seriousness of what had happened to the player hit home - and added that he had feared the worst. Dr Deaner, meanwhile, added that he had visited Muamba in hospital where the player was able to make a joke. "I whispered into his ear 'What's your name?'" Dr Deaner then said: "I said 'I understand you're a very good footballer'. And he said 'I try'."

Don't imagine that this will have any hardcore atheists re-thinking their views, mind. After all, Our Lord Himself said in His parable of the rich man and Lazarus, that even if a man should 'come back from the dead' that they will still not believe. Say a prayer that Muamba makes a full recovery and continues his playing career.