A Heart-Stopping Moment at San Siro

An unpleasant episode involved an Inter fan at the end of the Champions League semifinal. Inter-Barcelona had ended about fifteen minutes prior, and the slow procession of fans towards the exits of San Siro stadium in Milan had begun, after the achievement that granted the Nerazzurri access to the Champions League final, when one of the spectators fell ill and collapsed to the ground. Immediate assistance was provided. The man, an Inter fan just over 40 years old and without any apparent risk factors, 'was defibrillated 4 times, interspersed with cardiac massage. On the fourth attempt, the rhythm returned,' explained Alessandro Geddo, head of the San Siro stadium medical service, to Adnkronos Salute. 'At the end of the match, during the outflow from the second ring, blue sector - the doctor reconstructs - this young fan had a cardiac arrest,' a person 'without particular pathologies. He was assisted by the local patrol, then I and my team arrived. After the return of the cardiac rhythm, the patient was intubated and put into a medically induced coma.' After stabilization, the man 'was taken to the Intensive Care Unit of San Carlo Hospital' in Milan. 'He was breathing spontaneously - Geddo clarifies - Tomorrow he should be awakened and to date, there are no signs of neurological impairment.' This year, the doctor recounts, 'it is the second time' that a similar episode occurs 'at San Siro. On average, it happens twice a year.' The doctor continues: 'The man who fell ill in the stands yesterday after Inter-Barcelona was with a friend who was the first to already start cardiac massage. This is the turning point; the sooner you start massaging, the better.' 'Certainly, the stress of the match can have an impact on this type of event and it is well known that during high-emotion situations with the release of catecholamines, there is an increased risk of coronary spasm or even frank ischemia,' concludes the expert.