This is the moment hero doctor Tom Prichard was given a standing ovation by the St James’ Park crowd after helping to save a Newcastle fan’s life on Sunday afternoon.
Newcastle’s game against Tottenham was halted towards the end of the first half when a fan suffered a cardiac arrest in the stands, with players urging the referee to stop play, and Eric Dier rushing over to the dugout to get a defibrillator.
The man’s life was saved, and now a video has emerged of two of the doctors receiving a standing ovation from the Gallowgate End as they returned to their seats.
Hero doctor Tom Prichard receives a standing ovation from the St James’ Park crowd
Prichard appeared on BBC Breakfast on Monday to explain how he helped to save the man
In the clip, posted to Twitter, chants of ‘hero’ can be heard, while one man goes as far as to shake Dr Prichard’s hand before celebrating as though a goal had been scored.
Hero doctor Prichard, who works in the A&E department of a north-east hospital and also part-time at Middlesbrough’s academy, also appeared on BBC Breakfast on Monday morning to describe his actions and how it unfolded.
‘It all happened so quickly, to be honest,’ he said. ‘I was sat in the Gallowgate End and I could see something was happening with the fans. They were calling over the stewards and first-aiders, and I could see a lady there doing CPR on someone.
‘As an A&E doctor I thought I’d better go and offer a hand if I can, and see what help I can give here. So I just got up and went over to help, really.’
Prichard then went on to explain that the stricken man was incredibly lucky, with an intensive care doctor, a cardiologist, and St John Ambulance staff all on hand to assist and save his life.
After he had been stabilised, Prichard went back to his seat and his smile of relief is clear to see in the social media clip.
Dr Prichard has been praised by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Newcastle’s clash against Tottenham was suspended after a medical emergency in the crowd
Eric Dier sprinted to the Newcastle dug-out, calling and gesturing for a defibrillator
‘I do want to say, this wasn’t just me, so as I say – I had a friend helping out, Matty, another doctor, and the other two doctors,’ he continued on the BBC.
‘St John’s were brilliant, the club doctor came over to lend a hand. It really wasn’t just me, but I will say when I was walking back to my seat and 10,000 fans in the Gallowgate were shouting ‘hero’ at me, that is one of the best moments of my life.
‘The most important thing is, this man got to hospital. I want to stress the importance of early CPR, early chest compressions, early defibrillation, is what saved this man’s life. So if anyone in the public were to see this happen again, chest compressions, CPR is what needs to happen, and try to get a defibrillator there as soon as possible.’
There is likely to be further praise for Prichard and the other medics in the days and weeks to come, with Allan Saint-Maximin putting out a plea on Twitter to find the doctors involved in saving the man’s life.
Elsewhere on Twitter, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust tweeted: ‘We couldn’t be prouder of Dr Tom Prichard, one of our A&E registrars, who came to the rescue after a fan collapsed at the Newcastle game yesterday.’
A defibrillator was handed to the steward following the medical emergency in the crowd
Prichard and his friend Matty, also a doctor, walk back to their seats in the Gallowgate End
Mehrdad Ghodoussi, husband of Amanda Staveley, pictured prior to kick off at St James’ Park has tweeted to say the man taken ill at the game is ‘doing well’
Meanwhile, Dier and Sergio Reguilon also received a lot of praise on the pitch for their quick-thinking actions, with the latter asking the referee to stop play and Dier racing to the bench to get the club doctor.
The man who was taken ill is ‘doing well’, a senior figure at the club has said.
On Monday, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, whose wife, Amanda Staveley, is leading the consortium of investors which took over the club, said the fan – whom he named as George – is doing well.
He tweeted: ‘The real hero of the day thank you Dr. Prichard.
‘Thankfully George is now in a stable condition and doing well.
‘I’m sure the whole country is sending him positive vibes and he’ll be back in St James Park in no time at all.’
In the match itself, Newcastle went on to lose 3-2, in the first game under their new Saudi-based owners.
There was a celebratory atmosphere pre-game, and then when Newcastle took an early lead, but Spurs went on to turn the game on its head and secure all three points.
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