My son tried to pull off wires that kept me alive, says Fabrice Muamba

London, Apr 23 (ANI): Fabrice Muamba, whose heart stopped for 78 minutes during an FA Cup quarter final, has described how his young son playfully tried to pull out his life-saving wires as they hugged in hospital for the first time since the incident.

In his first interview since he regained consciousness, the 24-year-old footballer said his return to health could have been threatened when he was reunited with three-year-old Joshua as he lay in his hospital bed.

"It was a huge moment for me when Josh came. I cuddled him close and told him how much I loved him and how much I'd missed him, and it was a wonderful moment - until Josh noticed one of the wires plugged into my neck," the Daily Express quoted Muamba as saying.

"I had wires and cables all over me like spaghetti - into my nose, my neck and my arms, and he went for the one which was helping my kidneys to function and was absolutely vital to my recovery.

"He made a grab for it and I only stopped him just in time. I've laughed about it ever since," he said.

Muamba's heart stopped for 78 minutes during Bolton's FA Cup tie with Spurs at White Hart Lane on March 17 before 15 defibrillator shocks got it beating again. (ANI)