Off-duty medic praised for performing CPR on Aston Villa fan during medical emergency

An off-duty medic in the Villa Park crowd has been praised by supporters for performing life-saving CPR on a fellow Aston Villa fan during the team’s Europa League loss to Olympiacos.

A section of Villa Park was evacuated at half time when a Aston Villa fan, believed to be a man, suddenly collapsed in the crowd.  An announcement was made at half-time as police rushed up to attend to the incident, with hundreds of fans from the Holte End moving to give emergency services and stewards access.

One supporter in attendance, Heidi Elliot, who was attending the game with her father spotted the commotion about four or five rows from her seat and rushed into action to help. The medic, who quickly realised the patient was in cardiac arrest, told BBC News that the patient was a ‘young lad who didn’t look very well.”

She also added that it is important that more people are trained on how to deliver CPR. She explained: “It worried me a little bit, the lack of recognition that he was in cardiac arrest. If there is anything to take from it, it’s recognising that if somebody is in cardiac arrest they need CPR immediately.”

Elliot urged people to familarise themselves with British Heart Foundation Guidance describing it as a “life saving skill” and one that “you never know when you might need to do it.”

There was no update on the condition of the fan last night, although some reports claimed they were conscious as they were taken away. 

TNT Sports reporter Becky Ives joined the broadcast from pitchside, and said: "Unfortunately right on the stroke of half-time the medical emergency happened. I was down the tunnel and the emergency services moved very quickly."