Muamba ‘recognising family’ and answering questions

THE hospital treating Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba has confirmed the player can now recognise family members and respond to their questions.

Forty-eight hours after he collapsed during an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Spurs at White Hart Lane, where he suffered a cardiac arrest, it is the clearest indication yet that Muamba is winning his battle for life.

“Fabrice Muamba remains in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital and is continuing to show signs of improvement this evening,” said the joint statement released by the London Chest Hospital and Bolton yesterday. “He is now able to breathe independently, without the aid of a ventilator and he is able to recognise family members and respond to questions appropriately. These are signs of progress. However, his condition remains serious and our medical staff will continue to monitor and treat him.”

The confirmation follows claims from Curtis Codrington, who says he is a friend of Muamba, that he had started speaking in French and English.

Bolton sources have said that the 23-year-old has made considerable progress and the signs are looking extremely positive for the player. However, they point out that it is not unknown for patients to plateau at this stage.

Nevertheless, the latest updates are more than Bolton’s anxious players, staff and supporters dared hope as medics battled for two hours to get Muamba’s heart beating again.

Bolton have not confirmed how long manager Owen Coyle intends to maintain his own vigil for the player, although he is expected to remain in the capital for a further two days.

That would throw into question Bolton’s ability to fulfil Saturday’s scheduled game with Blackburn at the Reebok Stadium.