A YOUNG footballer has raised more than £8,000 to protect his teammates following Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest during the Euro 2020.

Oscar Jones was worried when the Denmark midfielder collapsed during a football match against Finland in the championship.

The professional footballer is only alive today after medics used a defibrillator on the pitch to save his life.

The seven-year-old Man Utd fan wanted to buy a similar lifesaving machine for his Cuddington Sandiway football team in Northwich.

In two days he had already raised an incredible £4,500 and quadrupled his target.

The Cuddington Primary School pupil has now ran one mile per day for 26 days and raised enough money to potentially fund 15 defibrillators in the Cuddington and Sandiway area.

Dad Ben said: “Oscar asked me ‘what if this was to happen to someone to one of our team?’

“As an FA coach, we can do CPR and are trained to to use a defibrillator but we don’t have one.

“We potentially don’t have the equipment that could save someone’s life.

“It’s doesn’t just protect the players as there are often around 100 people watching our matches with all the parents, referees and officials.

“We don’t want to have to use it but it will be peace of mind to all the parents and grandparents.”

Oscar completed his mini marathon on Sunday, crossing the finish line to cheers and applause.

“It went as well as could be expected,” Ben added.

“He had a bit of a stumble and he was tired but he’s absolutely smashed it.

“The teams are going to pay a bit towards the defibrillators so we can get more and we are hoping to get about 15.”