( CNN ) -- Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba did not respond to 15 defibrillator shocks and was in effect dead for 78 minutes before his heart started beating again , doctors who treated him have revealed . The 23-year-old has improved significantly since suffering a cardiac arrest during an English FA Cup match last Saturday but is still in intensive care with his condition described as serious . Muamba is responding appropriately to questions though , speaking in both French and English , and has been joking with some of his many visitors . Bolton 's club doctor , Jonathan Tobin , spoke for the first time on Wednesday , talking reporters through the severity of Muamba 's collapse and the frantic efforts made to save his life . Pinto : Is Muamba collapse a wake-up call for football ? Tobin said he and the other paramedics who rushed onto the field treated Muamba for a total of 48 minutes on the pitch and en route to London 's Chest Hospital , but it took a further 30 minutes to restart the midfielder 's heart . `` In effect he was dead in that time , '' Dr. Tobin said . `` Fabrice was in a type of cardiac arrest where the heart is showing lots of electrical activity but no muscular activity . `` It 's something that often responds to drugs and shocks . Now heaven knows why , but Fabrice had , in total , 15 shocks . He had a further 12 shocks in the ambulance . '' Muamba 's plight stunned players and supporters as the Congo-born star dropped to the floor with no-one near him just before halftime in the match . And Tobin explained the exasperation he felt as he sprinted onto the turf with the other medics on hand at the stadium , to try to save Muamba 's life with 40,000 people looking on . `` I ca n't begin to explain the pressure that was there , '' he said . `` This is n't somebody that 's gone down in the street or been brought into accident and emergency . Bolton manager has 'brief chat ' with recovering Muamba . `` This is somebody that I know , I know his family . This is somebody I consider a friend . This is somebody I joke with on a daily basis . As I was running onto the pitch I was thinking 'Oh my God , it 's Fabrice ' . '' The desperate effort to save Muamba was assisted by an off-duty cardiologist , who was in the stadium watching the game as a fan and was allowed onto the pitch . Dr. Andrew Deaner suggested Muamba be transferred to the London Chest Hospital , where he works , and administered vital drugs to the player in the ambulance . He says the fact Muamba is responding appropriately to questions and is able to make jokes within five days of suffering such major heart trauma is nothing short of astonishing . `` If you 're going to use the term miraculous , I guess it could be used here , '' he said . Deaner also revealed he had been in to see Muamba a few hours after he woke up . 'Muamba collapse proves I was right to quit the game , ' says ex pro . `` I whispered into his ear 'What 's your name ? ' , '' he explained . When Muamba said his name Deaner continued : `` I said ' I understand you 're a very good footballer ' . And he said ' I try . ' `` He 's made a remarkable recovery so far . We do n't want to get ahead of ourselves . As things stand , I think his life is not in danger at this time . His neurological function is looking very good but it is early days . '' Meanwhile , Bolton will be back in action on Saturday after Muamba 's family gave their blessing for the club to face rivals Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League . Bolton 's proposed league match with Aston Villa , scheduled for Tuesday , was postponed . `` We spoke together with the players as a group this morning and I talked with Fabrice 's family last night , '' Bolton manager Owen Coyle told the club 's website . `` Fabrice 's father Marcel and his fiancÃ©e Shauna were keen that we fulfill our fixtures . Once the players knew this , there was no doubt in our minds that we would play the matches . '' The FA Cup quarterfinal with Tottenham that was abandoned in the wake of Muamba 's collapse , will be replayed on March 27 at White Hart Lane .
Doctors who treated Fabrice Muamba reveal soccer star was in effect dead for 78 minutes . Muamba still in a serious condition in hospital after suffering cardiac arrest . The 23-year-old 's heart was shocked 15 times before it started responding to treatment . Score: 6