Spanish doctor Javier G. Rendo has questioned the emergency response to footballer Jesús de Miguel’s collapse during the Tenerife vs Andorra match, warning that delays in administering CPR and using a defibrillator could prove fatal in cases of sudden cardiac arrest.

Rendo, who shared his medical assessment on X before De Miguel later died in hospital, discussed a rare but potentially fatal condition known as Commotio Cordis, which occurs when a sudden impact to the chest disrupts the heart’s electrical rhythm and causes cardiac arrest.

According to the doctor, when a player collapses from suspected cardiac arrest, the immediate priority should be to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) through chest compressions and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) as quickly as possible.

He questioned the apparent emphasis on removing the player from the pitch, arguing that emergency treatment should begin immediately where the player collapses, while medical personnel bring an ambulance closer.

Rendo stressed that cardiac emergencies are extremely time-sensitive, with every second potentially affecting a patient's chances of survival. Delays in CPR and defibrillation can significantly reduce the likelihood of a successful recovery.

However, the doctor cautioned against drawing conclusions about the cause of De Miguel's collapse, explaining that the available information was insufficient to establish whether the player suffered cardiac arrest or whether Commotio Cordis was responsible.

His assessment nevertheless raised an important question about emergency preparedness in football: when a player suffers a suspected cardiac emergency, should the priority be moving him off the pitch or delivering life-saving treatment immediately?

The American Heart Association says immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chances of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. It also identifies CPR and the use of an AED as critical emergency interventions.


The urgency of Rendo's concerns is also consistent with FIFA's medical guidelines for football emergencies. FIFA advises that an unresponsive player who collapses should be treated as a suspected cardiac arrest until proven otherwise. Medical personnel should immediately assess the player, begin chest compressions and retrieve an AED without unnecessary delay.


Medical literature on cardiac emergencies in football further recommends that defibrillation should be available as quickly as possible, with one established pitchside protocol targeting the first shock within three minutes of collapse.