Evander Sno, the former Celtic and Bristol City midfielder, suffered his second on-pitch heart attack in as many years while playing for Dutch side NEC against Feyenoord on Sunday.
The Dutchman collapsed 30 minutes into the game after he felt a shock in his chest, which it was confirmed was the internal defibrillator he had fitted in 2010.
Sno, 25, suffered a cardiac arrest during an Ajax reserve game.
Feyenoord’s club doctor, Casper van Eijk, confirmed after the match: “Evander had a cardiac arrest which was followed by a shock from his internal defibrillator. And the shock is what he felt and that terrified him, which I could see in his eyes on the pitch.
“He was transported to a hospital because the defibrillator caused arrhythmia (an abnormal heart beat) so he has to stay there for the night.”
Sno's second scare may force him to announce a premature retirement on medical grounds.