BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian volleyball international Martin Perrin collapsed during a match for the second time in less than two years due to heart problems on Monday, but is in stable condition, his club told The Associated Press. .
The 21-year-old libero has had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in her body since suffering a cardiac arrest during a volleyball game in October 2022. The device appears to have proved crucial on Sunday when Perrin’s brother Pierre collapsed during a Belgian league match between Maaseik and Wallemme.
“The defibrillator saved his life,” Marseik general manager Dieter Lenders told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
Perrin recovered quickly and was talking when he was taken to the hospital for tests, Lenders said, adding that he spoke with Perrin’s father afterward.
“They are waiting for the results to know exactly what happened,” the coach said.
Perrin received applause as he headed from the sports venue to the hospital. The match continued and Marseik won.
“An hour after the accident, he told his team-mates that he was sorry to have left but was happy with the result. He did not lose his sense of humour,” Lenders said.
After his heart collapsed for the first time during a friendly match, Perrin was hospitalized for 13 days and had a defibrillator implanted. He was able to return to competition in less than three months.
“If something happens again, I will be protected,” Perrin told L’Avenir in an interview last year.
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