Shane del Rosario in critical condition following cardiac arrest

UFC heavyweight Shane del Rosario, 30, suffered a catastrophic cardiovascular collapse on Tuesday morning, and was brought to the hospital in full cardiac arrest. He was resuscitated in the ER, and returned back to stable heart rhythm and blood pressure. He remains in critical condition in the coronary care unit at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, in Newport Beach, California.

Shane del Rosario had a catastrophic cardiovascular collapse at home on Tuesday morning, said del Rosario’s manager Jason House. He was brought to the hospital in full cardiac arrest. He was resuscitated in the emergency room back to a stable heart rhythm and blood pressure. He is currently in the coronary care unit critically ill. Our prayers are with him and his family.

House later provided more dire information still, saying Rosario has a “very, very, very slim chance” of surviving. House said the fighter would need “a miracle.”

Del Rosario was scheduled to fight Guto Inocente at UFC 168 on Dec. 28, but was forced out of the contest due to a rib injury less than a week ago. The rib injury is not believed to be related to his current condition.

The fighter’s trainer, Colin Oyama, texted grim news from the hospital.

“We have a chance,” wrote Oyama, adding “albeit a small one.”

Training partner Erik Apple came on the UG and shared further details, including that he was found and perhaps saved by UFC flyweight contender Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall.

“He was supposed to fight next months UFC on the 28th,” posted Apple. “He’s in great shape right now. I was at the hospital yesterday and I will be going back in a few hours. It’s very serious and life threatening but there have been positive signs. Ian Mccall found him and possibly saved his life with CPR until the ambulance got there.”

In an interview with Sherdog, Apple offered further information.

Yesterday there was very little hope for him to even make it past that day, said Apple. It was down to the point where his liver and kidneys weren’t functioning. He was on dialysis. They had to give him the maximum amount of medication that they can, just so they could get his blood pressure at an acceptable level.

Since then, he’s actually had some positive signs. No. 1, his kidneys are functioning… he doesn’t have any problems with his organs right now as far as I know. Early this morning they began weaning him of off the blood pressure medication.

He had some response this morning. A nurse said he sort of readjusted himself and turned his head. To me that means his brain is coming back online. If he’s moving and having some kind of reaction those are all positive signs.”

From what we’re told, if Shane is going to survive, and he’s going to be OK, it would be a big deal.”

Apple also posted on his Instagram earlier today.

Yesterday my friend had two heart attacks and he is still fighting for his life. I got to see him last night and hold his hand and I know he isn’t giving up so we shouldn’t either.

The sentiment is felt by the entire UG, without exception.