According to Hertford Town, the defibrillator saved the player’s life following a medical emergency

‘And if it really needs to be said, if you don’t have a defibrillator at your club, get one’ – Hertford Town’s message to other clubs

Southern League side Hertford Town said the life of one of their players was saved on Saturday by deploying a defibrillator on the touchline.

The game against AFC Dunstable was abandoned in the second half following a medical emergency.

Both clubs then paid tribute to those who performed CPR on the pitch.

Hertford later confirmed one of their players was stable and speaking in hospital and his family were on their way to see him.

“Hugely distressing scenes today that you would never want to see on a football pitch or anywhere, but fortunately some good news.” they said on Twitter.external link

“Big thanks and respect to AFC Dunstable, their physio Niki, our physio Paige and [Dunstable player] Alasan Ann who performed CPR on the field.

“The Air Ambulance crew said these guys and the fact that our defibrillator was just feet away on our bench saved a life today.

“And if it’s really necessary, if you don’t have a defibrillator at your club, get one. The cost is irrelevant when they really can and do save lives, both on and off the pitch.”

Last year, the Premier League Defibrillator Fundexternal linksupported by the FA, the Premier League and Sport England, was launched.

The goal is to help thousands of football facilities without an easily accessible on-site device to install automated external defibrillators and external storage cabinets.

In June 2021, Danish international Christian Eriksen was then treated with a defibrillator suffer a cardiac arrest during a game at Euro 2020, while former Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba, who suffered an on-pitch cardiac arrest at a game at Tottenham in 2012, also survived after being put in a defibrillator.

AFC Dunstable chairman Simon Bullard also praised those involved in Saturday’s medical emergency.

“We hope the player recovers quickly and can play again soon.” he said.external link