English footballer Fabrice Muamba began breathing independently and responding to family members Monday, showing significant signs of recovery in intensive care two days after suffering a cardiac arrest during a match.
The 23-year-old Bolton midfielder collapsed on the pitch just before halftime at Tottenham on Saturday.
For two days, Muamba remained in critical condition in intensive care in a heart attack unit, and his long-term prognosis was uncertain.
But the Congo-born player made progress throughout Monday with medics no longer describing his condition as "critical" by the evening.
