They were about to lose a friend and teammate.
And now they are heading for a European Championship final - totally unafraid to lose a football match that in comparison had caused minimal pain.
The Danish players have received applause and the national team captain has been praised for his handling of the situation that Denmark, team as country, has been forced to go through.
The 49-year-old football fan has previously witnessed similar events in his life.
- I lost my uncle on the football field due to a heart attack.
So my feelings have been on the outside of the body and I have tried to deal with it, he says at today's press conference.
"We have experienced a lot"
Hjulmand lifts his players and management colleagues, whom he believes he can talk completely freely with - about emotions.
- I have a fantastic assistant coach in Morten Wieghorst with his history when he became seriously ill when he played in Celtic.
He had to fight all the way back to life.
He and Wieghorst were colleagues in North Zealand when one of their players, Jonathan Richter, was struck by lightning.
- The player was in a coma for two months but is thankfully here among us.
Hjulmand gets his energy from football.
But has also received help.
- I have also had a psychologist who has helped me. But those who help me are my leadership team. We are one, says Hjulmand. I try to be myself and not hide anything, I'm just myself.