Fabrice Muamba: Bolton midfielder discharged from hospital

Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba has paid tribute to the London Chest Hospital staff after being discharged.

The 24-year-old was dead for about 78 minutes after suffering a cardiac arrest and collapsing in a game against Tottenham on 17 March and had been in hospital since then.

"I am naturally very pleased to be discharged from hospital," he said.

"I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to every single member of staff who played a part in my care."

Muamba recovery timeline

• 17 March: Muamba collapses on the pitch and is taken to the London Chest Hospital
• 19 March: Heart beats without medication, Muamba moves his arms and legs and recognises family
• 20 March: Holds a "brief" conversation with Bolton manager Owen Coyle
• 26 March: Able to sit out of bed in hospital, eat and watch his team-mates on Match of the Day
• 30 March: Releases picture of himself in his hospital room on Twitter
• 5 April: Walks around his hotel room
• 16 April: Is released from London Chest Hospital

A spokesman for the Trust said: "Barts Health can confirm that Fabrice Muamba has now been discharged following several weeks of treatment. All our staff wish him the very best in his ongoing recovery."

Muamba collapsed after 41 minutes of the FA Cup quarter-final tie with Spurs and was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and 15 defibrillator shocks before he arrived at the intensive care unit of the heart attack centre at the London Chest Hospital.

The former England Under-21 international was helped on the pitch by Deaner, consultant cardiologist at London Chest Hospital, who was at the game as a fan, and ran out of the stands to lend his expertise.

Last month, Trotters club doctor Jonathan Tobin said: "It was 48 minutes when he collapsed to reaching hospital and a further 30 minutes after that. He was, in effect, dead at that time.

"We were fearing the worst and didn't think we would get the recovery we had. It's incredible."