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| The picture we all wanted to see: This was the first photo of Muamba sitting up in hospital during his recovery |
Fabrice Muamba has paid tribute to the doctors who saved his life after being discharged from hospital on Monday afternoon.
The Bolton midfielder has been recovering since suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch during his side's match with Tottenham at White Hart Lane on March 17.
Bolton and the London Chest Hospital released a photograph showing the former England Under-21 international shaking hands with Dr Andrew Deaner, who leapt from the crowd at White Hart Lane to help Muamba, and his colleague Dr Sam Mohiddin.
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| Recovery: Fabrice Muamba with Dr Andrew Deaner (left) and Dr Sam Mohiddin as he is discharged |
'Their dedication, professionalism and expertise is simply amazing and I will forever be in their debt. I also wish to say thank you to all the many well-wishers who have sent thousands of messages of support.
'Now I am out of hospital, I am looking forward to continuing my recovery and spending precious time with my family.'
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Battle: Doctors fought to save Muamba on the pitch at White Hart Lane
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Muamba's discharge is the next step in what has so far been a remarkable recovery for the former England Under 21 international, who effectively died for 78 minutes after his heart stopped beating.
Muamba collapsed in the 41st minute of the match, which was subsequently abandoned, and medical staff desperately worked to save the player's life on the pitch before he was rushed to hospital.
The former Arsenal and Birmingham midfielder received 15 defibrillator shocks.
But despite initial worries the midfielder would die, he started talking two days after his collapse and began walking just over a fortnight later.
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Football family: Muamba received messages of support from all over the world
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| Support: Bolton players wore Muamba shirts before facing Blackburn last month |
Bolton manager Owen Coyle, who was stunned at watching his midfielder fall flat on to the turf last month, shouting 'he's just collapsed' before running on to the pitch to come to his player's aid, said: 'It is absolutely fantastic news that Fabrice has been discharged from hospital and everyone at the club is delighted.
'We would also like to add our thanks to the staff at The London Chest Hospital for their care and treatment of Fabrice, which has been outstanding.
'It is important that Fabrice and his family are now given time and space to be together, and we would ask the media to continue to respect their privacy.'
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| Anxious wait: Coyle addresses the media just days after the incident |
A spokesman for Barts Health NHS 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.'
Players from Real Madrid and Barcelona gave their support to Muamba during his recovery by wearing 'get well soon' t-shirts while leading figures from the game took to Twitter to offer their best wishes in the aftermath of his cardiac arrest.
On Monday Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden Tweeted 'Yesss big Fab :-)))' upon hearing of his team-mate's release while Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor was elated at the news.
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| Tribute: Bolton fans show their support for Muamba against Blackburn last month |
'That is probably the best piece of news we have had in 2012,' Taylor said.
'Everyone is very grateful for the way the staff of both clubs dealt with it and the way that the hospital have treated Fabrice.
'It is a great tribute to the battling qualities that Fabrice obviously has that he has pulled through this.
'Watching the game, like everyone, I feared the worst. With everyone that was praying for him at the time in the football world and beyond, you have to believe the power of prayer has had an effect.'
It is not known whether Muamba, who signed for Bolton in 2008, will ever play again.
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