Now he has returned home and thanked

Former Newcastle United footballer David Ginola has left hospital ten days after having a quadruple heart bypass when he collapsed at a charity match.

The 48-year-old fell unconscious on a football pitch at the home of Jean-Stéphane Camerini - the organiser of the Mapauto Golf Cup – in the Mandelieu region of France.

He was airlifted to hospital where he had the major surgery after his cardiac arrest.

Luckily, the operation appears to have been successful as the midfielder has now returned home.



Former Newcastle United footballer David Ginola, 49 (pictured), is said to have suffered a suspected heart attack and fallen unconscious while playing football in the Mandelieu region of France at 4.30pm yesterday

He tweeted: 'Home at last! Thanks so much to all of you for your incredible messages of love and affection! They do help my recovery.'

French media initially reported that the former French international suffered a cardiac arrest but his agent later took to his official Twitter account to ease fears and claim he was simply struck down with heatstroke after 'playing footy in the midday heat'.

A day after the incident, speaking on nightly French TV show L'Équipe du Soir, Jean Philippe Lustyk - who was by Ginola's side at the time - explained the collapse.

Luckily, it appears the operation was successful as Ginola has now been able to return home

He said: 'The emergency services arrived at the scene within 15 minutes of the incident. And today we cannot know (what is going to happen).

'He is in a stationary state. He is in a coma. There was a cardiac arrest, he had a heart attack on the pitch. He fell in front of us.

'And if he has been saved, I am using the conditional tense because the situation right now is still very dramatic. Contrary to what was announced on social media, notably by his agent. At no moment was David Ginola in a good state.

'There was a message on Twitter: "I am fine, don't worry." This is absolutely not the case. Sadly, no. He remains in a stationary state. And so nobody can know anything.

'The emergency services have indicated that the initial response came from Olivier Girault and Matt Pokora who were on the pitch with him… They ran towards him, first of all to prevent him from swallowing his own tongue and second of all they administered the first cardiac massages when Ginola's pulse was not there.

'So during those crucial 15 minutes before the emergency services arrived, they prevented him from being dead… At the moment we absolutely cannot know David's state.'

Earlier, French newspaper Nice-Matin had reported that the former winger had suffered a cardiac arrest while playing football in Mandelieu, where he was attending a celebrity golf tournament.

Nice-Matin said he had been taken to the Hospital Princess Grace of Monaco by air ambulance at around 4.40pm and claimed he was intubated and ventilated upon arrival, after falling unconscious.

Subsequent reports suggested the 49-year-old, who last year briefly put himself forward as a candidate for the FIFA presidency, had in fact only fainted.

Earlier, Ginola's agent took to the former footballer's official Twitter account to ease fears over his health and claim he was simply struck down with heatstroke after 'playing footy in the midday heat' yesterday afternoon

Tottenham Hotspur, one of Ginola's former clubs, responded by tweeting their best wishes to the football ace

Former Spurs player Ginola, 49 (left), appeared healthy when he was pictured with a glass of bubbly in his hand alongside Marie Jordan (centre) and Eddie Jordan an event in One Mayfair, London, just two days ago

This seemed to be supported by a reassuring message which was posted to his official Twitter account – in both French and English – in which it was claimed he was simply 'having tests done'.

It read: 'Footy match in the midday sun, not very clever. Now having some tests done. Whoever voted for a World Cup in Qatar in the summer?'

Tottenham Hotspur, one of Ginola's former clubs, responded by tweeting their best wishes, saying: 'Good to hear @teamginola is doing well. Everyone at the Club wishes you a speedy recovery!'

However, it since emerged that Ginola's message was in fact uploaded by his agent – and not the former football himself.

Just days before the incident, the former Spurs, Aston Villa and Everton player appeared healthy and in good spirits when he was pictured attending the Amber Rocks Concert at One Mayfair in London.

Following the event, he is said to have flown back to his native France to take part in the 5th edition of the Mapauto Golf Cup which sees athletes, actors, musicians and journalists battle it out on the golf course.

Ginola, who grew up in France, played in his homeland before making the move from Paris Saint-Germain to Newcastle United in a £2.5million move in July 1995.

He made his Newcastle debut against Coventry City on August 19, 1995, in a 3-0 win and scored his first league goal on August 27 against Sheffield Wednesday in a 2-0 away victory.

Ginola played in his native France before making the move from Paris Saint-Germain to Newcastle United in a £2.5million move in July 1995. He is pictured above in action in an FA Cup fourth round match in January 1997

News emerged on Twitter that Ginola had suffered a suspected heart attack. He is now said to be in a coma

He also made 17 appearances for France between 1990 and 1995, scoring three goals.

He later went on to play for Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Everton before retiring in 2002.

Since his retirement from the game, he has become involved in several new pursuits, including acting and football punditry.

Ginola is a regular contributor to BBC, BT and CNN and hosts 'Match of ze Day' ('MozD'), a programme which broadcasts live Premier League matches on Canal+ in France.

He is married to fashion model Coraline and the pair have a son and a daughter, Andrea and Carla.