Mauricio Nievas, after surviving a sudden cardiac arrest: "I am grateful for life to the Argentinian players' union"

• The Argentinian goalkeeper suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during a training session with his club, Deportivo Madryn, in January
• Doctors managed to revive him and, after receiving an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), he is now undergoing rehabilitation to return to professional football
• The health coverage of Futbolistas Argentinos Agremiados is fully covering his medical care and recovery

On the morning of 9 January, Mauricio Nievas was taking part in a pre-season training session with Deportivo Madryn when he began to convulse and collapsed on the pitch. The club’s medical staff acted swiftly, using resuscitation techniques and a defibrillator to achieve the most urgent outcome: bringing him back from cardiac arrest.

"I don’t remember anything about that day," says Nievas, who has since gone from focusing on promotion to Argentina’s top division – his club’s main goal for the year – to simply thinking about returning to professional football.

"From the first days, when I was already hospitalised and learned that surgery would be required, the first thing I did was try to put football out of my mind. Even if it doesn’t take a full year to recover, it’s still a slow process. If you don’t shift your focus to your health – both physically and mentally – it becomes much harder to recover.

"It was obviously difficult for me, because it’s hard to step away from competition, from the dressing room and the daily routine. But this is a stage you have to go through and face in the best possible way, both mentally and physically. So I focused on making sure everything went well."

And it did. After two months living in Buenos Aires to receive specialist care, Mauricio returned to Puerto Madryn – 1,300 kilometres away – with positive news: his recovery is progressing well, and it is now a matter of time and patience before he can play again.

During that period, he underwent two operations. The first corrected a blocked artery and another inflamed artery that had caused the cardiac arrest. The second involved the implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), which will allow him to return to the pitch.

The device, implanted under the skin, can deliver an electric shock if the heart enters ventricular fibrillation. It is the same type of device that enabled Danish player Christian Eriksen to return to professional football after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Euro 2020 match.

"From the first day, I was told that what happened to me was similar to what happened to Eriksen. When they explained the operation to implant the defibrillator, the doctors told me that Eriksen had returned to play. In his own time, but he came back. They reassured me that if I committed to my recovery, I would be able to play again."

The emotion of remaining a professional footballer

At 27, Nievas had never been sidelined for more than two and a half months. Only a serious muscle tear had previously kept him out for that long.

"Those months went by quickly. What I’ve gone through now is much more complex, but I had to face it in the best possible way because it carries risks. If I didn’t fully commit to each step – following a strict diet, taking medication – things could have gone wrong. I had to focus on the process, step by step, and now on what lies ahead."

There was also a period of uncertainty about his professional future.

"Before going to Buenos Aires, I spoke with the club doctors, but they were understandably cautious. When I met the surgeon and cardiologist in Buenos Aires, they told me I would be able to play sport again, but there was still some doubt about whether I could play professionally. After the first operation, they confirmed that I could return to professional football and that they would implant the defibrillator to give everyone peace of mind. That lifted a huge weight off my shoulders."

Learning that he would be able to continue his career brought "a flood of emotions and great happiness after a period of uncertainty".

Although he is now taking his rehabilitation in stride, there is also some anticipation about returning to the pitch: "As my return gets closer, there’s naturally more to think about, but I’m taking it one step at a time."

For now, football is no longer his main focus: "It’s impossible to disconnect completely, but I’ve stepped back a bit. I watch Deportivo Madryn matches or big games like the Recopa Sudamericana final, but generally I prefer to watch a film, drink mate (Argentine infuse herbal drink) with my mum and siblings, and spend time chatting with them. I usually just leave whatever’s on TV playing in the background.”

"I am grateful for life to Futbolistas Argentinos Agremiados"

Alongside his resilience and the expertise of Deportivo Madryn’s medical staff, another key factor in Mauricio’s recovery has been the support of Futbolistas Argentinos Agremiados (FAA).

As in so many other cases, the union’s health coverage was immediately made available to the goalkeeper and his family through its chief officer, Ana Maria Spirito. FAA Secretary General Sergio Marchi and Deputy Secretary General Dario Checchia also travelled to Chubut to arrange his transfer by medical plane to Buenos Aires, where he was treated at the British Hospital.

There, Mauricio received specialist care, including both surgeries and his ongoing rehabilitation plan.

"I have to take my hat off to the people at Agremiados. From the very first day, they have supported me and my family: organising the transfer, arranging the medical flight, covering the hospitalisation, the surgery, the implant… They even covered the cost of the apartment where I lived for two months in Buenos Aires.

"Ana Maria has always been in touch, checking how I’m doing, helping with medication and supporting my family. These are not everyday situations. It’s incredible, and I’m deeply grateful – for my life, and for this level of support."

That support also extends to mental health: "I’ve spoken with a psychologist through the health coverage. I haven’t started sessions yet, but I plan to, especially closer to my return, to help deal with any fears about coming back. The mental aspect is very important for athletes, and having access to a psychologist through the system is reassuring.

"Having this kind of support gives footballers great peace of mind. In any situation, you know they will be there for you. It’s something well known in our environment. I’ve seen it myself: tea-mates with young children receiving nappies, or colleagues dealing with injuries at other clubs getting support. In football, we know it’s an excellent health system."