Paramedics were unable to get Fabrice Muamba's heart to start beating on its own for almost two hours, it emerged earlier today.
The Bolton Wanderers midfielder collapsed during his side's FA Cup tie away at Tottenham Hotspur last night.
He received medical attention for several minutes on the pitch, before it was later revealed that he had suffered a cardiac arrest.
It has now been reported that medical staff battled for around two hours to get Muamba's heart to beat on its own.
The 23-year-old is currently in a critical condition at the London Chest Hospital.