Widow of Keighley Cougars player urging people to get first aid training after Christian Eriksen incident
Lizzie Jones set up the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund in 2015 in his memory
Last updated 17th Jun 2021
The widow of a Keighley Cougar's player is urging more people to get first aid training after the incident with Danish international Christian Eriksen on Saturday (12 June 2021).
Lizzie Jones' husband Danny suffered a cardiac arrest six years ago while playing for the West Yorkshire side but sadly passed away.
It turned out Danny had an undiagnosed genetic heart condition called cardiomyopathy, which affects the size, shape or thickness of the heart.
Since then, Lizzie's set up the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund to offer basic first aid training, equipment and health screening to grassroots clubs.
They've provided over 250 defibrillators and hundreds of hours worth of vital training sessions.
Defibrillators cost around £1,000 each and provide potentially life-saving treatment to anyone suffering a cardiac arrest.
She said: "Since the incident with Christian we've had so many people reaching out to us to get help and we want to help.
"There is nothing I can do about what happened to Danny. I can't bring him back or change anything. But I can create a legacy for him and now his name is more spoken about than what it was while he was alive and that's wonderful for him and for his children.
"He's making such a difference in the world and he's changed and saved lives. Danny had the doctor and the equipment there but this time it just didn't work. But at least you know if you've got the kit there you're giving a person the best chance at life.
"Speaking to people about things that have been found and they're absolutely devastating and I completely understand that but I have to say 'Look imagine if it was the other way round and it hadn't been found and you were in a position like Danny'".
29-year-old professional footballer Christian Eriksen collapsed in his side's defeat by Finland in Copenhagen on Saturday.
The Danish international and former rushed to hospital but is said to be doing well.
It was confirmed today that he would have a pacemaker fitted.
The Danish team doctor, Morten Boesen, said it is "necessary due to rhythm disturbances".
In the UK as many as one in 120 people are born with a faulty gene which could lead to potentially deadly conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and familial hypercholesterolemia.
That could mean up to 500,000 people are living with one of these genetic defects.