BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin and his fiancée Carolina Matovac opened up publicly Friday about a “traumatic” health scare that Matovac went through over the summer.
Matovac experienced “major heart failure” while on vacation in France and was on life support before receiving a heart transplant, according to a letter posted on Sabres’ social media pages on Friday morning.
“Fortunately, she received CPR on multiple occasions, and up to a couple hours at the time to keep her alive, which ultimately saved her life,” Dahlin wrote. “Without her receiving lifesaving CPR, the result would have been unimaginable. It is hard to even think about the worst-case scenario.”
Dahlin thanked the doctors, nurses and rehab staffs at Hospital Centre of Antibes Juan-Les-Pins and Hopitaux Universitaries de Marseille in France, Sahlgrenska Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden and Hogsbo Rehabilitation Center.
Matovac is still working on her rehab overseas to be able to return to Buffalo.
“She has demonstrated an incredible determination, spirit, positivity and resilience that I am in awe of,” Dahlin wrote. “This has undoubtedly been the most challenging chapter of our lives, however it is something that we have learned so much from.”
They asked for privacy as Matovac continues to recover.
“Along with our community in Sweden, both the Buffalo and hockey communities have embraced Carolina and I over the years, and we know they will continue to do so,” Dahlin said.
Dahlin, 25, is entering his eighth season with the Sabres. He was named captain at the start of the 2024-25 season.
Aidan Joly was named News 4’s Digital Executive Producer in 2025. He has been on staff since 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.