Charlie Wyke: Wigan Athletic striker thanks manager Leam Richardson for saving life
- Published
Charlie Wyke spent 10 days in hospital following his cardiac arrest
Wigan Athletic striker Charlie Wyke has thanked manager Leam Richardson for saving his life after he suffered a cardiac arrest in training last month.
Richardson was the first to begin the resuscitation process with CPR before club doctor Jonathan Tobin took over.
Wyke, 28, has been discharged from hospital with a defibrillator fitted.
"I am told it was only the quick response of the gaffer and then the continuation from the doc that saved my life," Wyke said in a statement.
"I will be forever grateful that due to their actions - and those of my team-mates and other staff - I am here to talk to about the experience."
'Life-saving' CPR training
Wyke's collapse on 22 November came just a few weeks after the club's training ground staff had received CPR training.
"[It] has clearly proven to be life-saving with the way in which the gaffer reacted to my collapse and initiated the CPR on the training pitch," Wyke added.
"I think that sends out a message of just how important it is that coaches and staff have that training."
Wigan's players showed their support for Wyke by holding up a shirt with his name on after their victory at Plymouth on Saturday.
Wigan striker Will Keane held Charlie Wyke's shirt after scoring against Plymouth
"The support from my team-mates over the last few days has been incredible," Wyke said. "The gesture to celebrate with my shirt at Plymouth just goes to show what a top group of lads we have here at Wigan.
"I've heard the fans singing my name when I've been watching the games from hospital too, which has been amazing to hear - I'm really thankful for that support."
Following their game against Plymouth, manager Richardson told BBC Sport he had endured one of the "hardest, toughest weeks" of his career.
"I thought I'd seen everything but you quickly realise you've only seen small parts of it," the 42-year-old said.
"The lads have been really focused. I think what you can do in an abnormal situation is try to be as normal as possible and the lads have tried to do that."
Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen has also been fitted with an implantable defibrillator, although it means he is banned from playing in Italy's Serie A for club side Inter Milan.
The former Tottenham midfielder, 29, collapsed on the pitch in June while playing for Denmark at Euro 2020 after suffering a cardiac arrest.