Heart concussion... when the moment of the blow is more dangerous than its force

The death of Tenerife's Spanish player, Jesus de Miguel, after he was subjected to a violent collision with Andorra's goalkeeper, Jesus Uno, has brought to light a rare and serious medical condition known as "cardiac concussion," which is a condition that may occur as a result of a direct blow to the chest at a critical moment in the heart's electrical cycle, which may lead to a fatal disturbance in its heartbeat for seconds.

"Comosio Cordis"...decisive seconds more dangerous than shock

The danger of this condition, known as "comosio cordis," lies in the fact that the decisive factor is not necessarily the force of the blow, but rather its timing. The heart works according to a regular electrical cycle, and during a very short part of it, known as the sensitive period, the heart is most vulnerable to being affected by any external shock. If the blow hits the heart area during this moment, it may lead to a serious electrical disorder known as ventricular fibrillation, where the heart loses its ability to pump blood effectively, which may cause sudden cardiac arrest.

The American Heart Association emphasizes on its website the importance of immediate intervention with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated defibrillator to save the injured person. These incidents confirm the importance of immediate medical response when a sudden collapse occurs inside the stadium, where the priority is to assess the condition of the injured person, call an ambulance, and begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation when needed, while using an automated electric shock device as quickly as possible.

In cases of cardiac arrest, time is not only a contributing factor, but it may be the difference between life and death. The earlier resuscitation and the use of a shock device are started, the greater the chances of survival.

Does the guard face prison?

The repercussions of the incident did not stop at the sporting and medical aspects, but rather extended to the judicial path, after the Spanish police opened an investigation to determine the circumstances of the death of a Tenerife player, following the collision with the Andorra goalkeeper.

According to what was reported by the Spanish newspaper "El Pais", the investigation aims to determine the circumstances of the incident, and whether the collision was merely a sporting contact that occurred in the context of the match, or whether there is reason to hold the goalkeeper legally responsible.

In the same context, the Spanish newspaper "Ara" discussed the legal aspect of possible penalties, as the Spanish Penal Code stipulates imprisonment from one to four years in the event of a proven murder resulting from gross negligence, while less serious cases of negligence may result in financial penalties.