Doctor helps save collapsed Blackburn Rovers fan at Middlesbrough match months after saving Newcastle supporter

In October, Dr Tom Prichard was a fan at a Newcastle game when he ended up performing CPR on a collapsed member of the crowd. Four months later and now part of the Middlesbrough medical team, he has helped to save a second football supporter.

Middlesbrough players wait as play is paused due to a medical emergency in the stands during the Sky Bet Championship match at Ewood Park, Blackburn. Picture date: Monday January 24, 2022.
Image: Dr Tom Prichard helped a fan for a second time in four months on Monday night
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An A&E doctor has for a second time this season performed CPR on a collapsed fan at a football game.

In October, an off-duty Dr Tom Prichard helped restart a fan's heart after they collapsed in the stands at Newcastle United's ground St James' Park.

Last night Dr Prichard was working for Middlesbrough FC's medical team when an elderly man collapsed in the stands at Ewood Park during a game against Blackburn Rovers.

Dr Tom Prichard
Image: Dr Tom Prichard helped a collapsed Blackburn Rovers fan at Ewood Park last night

The Rovers supporter, who was situated in the lower tier of the Jack Walker Stand, took ill midway through the second half.

With the help of Middlesbrough physiotherapist Chris Moseley, CPR was carried out, before the man was transferred to an ambulance and then hospital.

The game - which Blackburn won 1-0 - was halted for 12 minutes while the emergency was handled.

In a statement, Blackburn praised both club medical teams for treating the man, adding that he was later "alert and stable".

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Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder was praised for alerting the referee to the situation in the stands.

Middlesbrough players wait as play is paused due to a medical emergency in the stands during the Sky Bet Championship match at Ewood Park, Blackburn. Picture date: Monday January 24, 2022.
Image: Play was stopped for 12 minutes while the fan was treated

Speaking after the game, Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray said: "It was mentioned in the dressing room, the whole team were asking after him.

"This club is a very caring club about the community and we'll be doing everything we can to support the gentleman and his family and we wish him well."

While he was on duty for yesterday's game, Dr Prichard was just a fan at a match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur four months ago.

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October: Hero doctor describes helping to save Newcastle fan

During that match he saw that someone had collapsed in a nearby row of seats.

Speaking to Sky News afterwards he said: "I thought I better get over and offer some help and advice."

He said he was used to treating heart attack patients in hospital, but out of hospital "I have not experienced that before".

"It was all very difficult. He was trapped in between some seats. It was quite noisy. I couldn't hear what the defibrillator was telling me. It was all a bit different. So it was a bit of a struggle. But plenty of extra support arrived which was very helpful."

Dr Prichard, who works at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, praised the St John's Ambulance crew and paramedics who "got the (defibrillator) pads on as quickly as they could". He also praised a fan for starting CPR early.