FOOTBALL's miracle man Fabrice Muamba was made an honorary doctor today - and dedicated the award to the medical team who saved his life. The Bolton Wanderers star, 24, said he was "humbled" to receive the degree award from Bolton University, nearly four months after he "died" from a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup tie in March.
Muamba's heart stopped for 78 minutes after he collapsed on the pitch at White Hart Lane on March 17.
Millions on TV watched as medics from both teams and a heart specialist who rushed from the stands desperately battled to keep him alive.
He spent a month in hospital, but has stunned doctors with his amazing recovery.
Today the player's proud fiancee Shauna and other family members were in the audience as the player picked up his honorary doctorate at the university's graduation day ceremony. Dressed in cap and gown, Fab said: �I would like to thank the University of Bolton for this award of an Honorary Doctorate.
"I am very humbled to accept it on behalf of all the amazing men and women who combined to save my life, the paramedics and medical teams of Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham, ambulance personnel, and of course the consultants, doctors and nurses at The London Chest Hospital, my family and I owe them all so much.�
But the footballer said he still does not know if he will be able to resume his professional career.
He said: �I�m getting stronger every day. I�m far away from being back on the football pitch. �I really, really hope, by the grace of God, that I�ll be back on the pitch but I�m just grateful to the university for this doctorate and I receive it on behalf of everybody who helped me to survive the cardiac arrest.�
Muamba also got a close-up look at the sort of equipment that was used to treat him as he toured the university's sports science health facilities - although thankfully the patient this time was just a dummy.
He rocked his head back in laughter as senior lecturer Chris Mulryan showed him the plastic man in a hospital bed hooked up to a tangle of wires.
Muamba's cardiac arrest was not the first time he has battled against the odds.
His family fled war in the Democratic Republic of Congo before seeking asylum in the UK.
Despite arriving in London aged 11 unable to speak English, he went on to earn 10 GCSEs and three A-levels, and joined Arsenal FC�s youth academy in 2002 before moving to Birmingham and then Bolton in 2008.
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