A HEROIC doctor saved a Blackburn fan’s life just three months after resuscitating a Newcastle supporter – and was back at work in A&E less than 12 hours later.
Dr Tom Prichard was part of the Middlesbrough medical team that came to the rescue of someone in the home end at Ewood Park on Monday night.
Incredibly, the dedicated doctor then started his 12-hour University Hospital of North Tees A&E shift at 8am on Tuesday morning.
Boro physio Adam Reed – ironically Blackburn’s first signing after they won the Premier League in 1995 – was the first person on the scene.
He was joined by Prichard and the Middlesbrough head physio Chris Moseley as they jumped into action when the elderly supporter collapsed behind their dugout.
After a 12-minute delay to the match, play resumed and Sam Gallagher grabbed the only goal of the game to continue Blackburn’s march towards Championship promotion.
A Blackburn statement said: “Blackburn Rovers are pleased to report that the elderly gentleman who required urgent medical attention during tonight’s game is now in a stable condition in hospital.
“The Rovers supporter, who was situated in the lower tier of the Jack Walker Stand, took ill midway through the second half of the 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough.
“Rovers wish to pay a special thanks to Middlesbrough’s medical department, who were first on the scene and who were able to restart the gentleman’s breathing, as well as Rovers’ medical staff and the crowd doctor and his team for their swift response.
“After regaining consciousness, the supporter was taken by ambulance to hospital, where he is alert and stable.
“Our thoughts remain with him and his family this evening, and we hope that he makes a full and speedy recovery.”
The latest incident comes just three months after Prichard was in the stands as a fan when Newcastle faced Tottenham in October.
He was 30 rows away when the Toon fan suffered a cardiac arrest but helped perform CPR which ultimately proved crucial in keeping him alive.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast after the incident earlier in the season, the junior doctor from University Hospital of North Tees said: “It’s something you see at work fairly often, but I haven’t really had this outside of the hospital before.
“There was an elderly gentleman laid out on the seats in cardiac arrest, and CPR ongoing.
“He was quite fortunate, as well, as very quickly an intensive care doctor arrived, a cardiologist arrived, and we were able to bring him back again.
“When I got back to my seat, I had no idea the match had been stopped. I just focused on what was happening.
“I would say when I was walking back to my seat and 10,000 fans from the Gallowgate were chanting hero at me, that was one of the best moments of my life.”
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