The captain of amateur football club Achilles Veen, who suffered a cardiac arrest in Oisterwijk on Thursday afternoon, is doing well. “He is still in the hospital, but got through the night well and is responsive again. Fortunately, it ended well,” says a relieved Michel Smits, treasurer of Achilles Veen. According to him, this is because the club was prepared for these types of calamities.
It was a real shock when the captain of the club from Veen lost the cup in the KNVB South I district around the 32nd minute of the final. He had cardiac arrest. “Fortunately we were quick,” says Smits.
Well prepared
This is not the first time that the club has had to deal with this: it happened to the assistant coach two years ago. That is why the club was well prepared, he explains. “We have been much more focused on it since then. Our employees take a course every year.”
He owes his life to that, Smits is sure. “There was an AED at the sports park, and skilled people arrived quickly. That saved his life. A hundred percent.” Shortly afterwards, an air ambulance landed on the Trinitas field in Oisterwijk where the final was played on Ascension Day.
The match was stopped. After consultation with all parties, it was decided to permanently stop the match. The Goes players did not want to continue playing because they did not want to cheer for a possible goal.
After consultation, the match will be played later, with a 2-0 lead for Achilles Veen. “Yes, that will be a special match with mixed feelings,” Smits knows. “But yes, we have to play for the competition again tomorrow. Everything continues as usual.”
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