Newcastle supporter 'awake and alert' in hospital after suffering cardiac arrest

A Newcastle fan who suffered a cardiac arrest during Sunday’s match with Tottenham is now ‘awake and alert’ while recovering in hospital, the supporter’s son has confirmed.

Spurs defender Sergio Reguilon quickly alerted referee Andre Marriner that a man had collapsed in the stands of St James’ Park in the 40th minute of the Premier League match.

The game was temporarily suspended when the elderly supporter received CPR from medics and fans, before a shock from a defibrillator.

The fan was taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and is awake and responsive, according to his son, Paul Smith.

‘He is awake and alert in hospital, but has no memory of being at the game today,’ said his son.

‘I wish to thank every single person who helped him, it could have been a totally different outcome without them.’

A&E doctor Tom Prichard was on hand to provide immediate medical attention and was branded a hero by thousands of supporters around him.

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‘It all happened so quickly,’ Dr Tom Prichard told BBC Breakfast.

‘I was sat in the Gallowgate End and I could see that there was something going on. Fans were calling over stewards and first-aiders and there was a lady doing CPR on someone.

‘As an A&E doctor I went to offer a hand to see how I could help.’

He added: ‘St John’s were fairly quick and took over the CPR. Another friend of mine came over to help too.

‘I went into overdrive and focused purely on the matter in hand.

‘When I got back to my seat I had no idea that the game had even been stopped and we were still in the first half.

‘It wasn’t just me. I had another doctor friend helping me out. St John’s were brilliant, the Newcastle club doctor was there helping, so it really wasn’t just me.

‘But what I will say is when I was walking back to my seat and 10,000 fans were chanting ‘hero’ at me, that was one of the best moments of my life.’

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