PARIS (AP) " The surgeon who operated on David Ginola said the former France winger "almost died" after having a heart attack while playing soccer. Dreyfus said Ginola suffered the symptoms of a heart ventricular fibrillation and was diagnosed with "extremely severe lesions" when he arrived at the hospital. The 49-year-old Ginola was airlifted to the Monaco cardiothoracic center on Thursday after collapsing on the field in the Riviera town of Mandelieu. Professor Gilles Dreyfus told The Associated Press on Friday that Ginola was in good condition a day after undergoing a quadruple heart bypass operation and was expected to make a full recovery. Dreyfus, who also performed surgery on French actor Gerard Depardieu earlier in his career, said Ginola has regained consciousness and does not need any medication.

Source: New Zealand Herald May 20, 2016 10:03 UTC