Sheffield sports club chief wants everyone to know where nearest defibrillator is

That’s the view of Abbeydale Sports Club president Roger Lomas, whose life was saved using a defibrillator after he suffered a cardiac arrest while playing hockey.

Football fans watched in horror as Danish footballer Christian Eriksen suddenly collapsed on the pitch during his country’s Euro 2020 opener last Saturday.

The 29-year-old needed to be resuscitated with a defibrillator after suffering a cardiac arrest and remains in hospital but says he is "fine under the circumstances".

Saturday’s event has prompted Roger Lomas from Abbeydale Sports Club to speak out “so we have less and less of these incidents”.

Roger was playing a match at Abbeydale Sports Ground in February 2015 at the age of 69 when he keeled over at half-time and suffered a cardiac arrest.

Before that moment, he had felt fine.

Two doctors who were watching the game helped save his life using CPR and a defibrillator which Roger had installed as chairman of squash at Abbeydale Sports Club 10 years previously after a member had a fatal heart attack.

The 75-year-old from Fulwood has since made a full recovery and still plays hockey. This week he represented England over-75s in a match against Wales.

"I’m just grateful that I got a second chance,” he said.

"Make sure that you know where a defibrillator is and if there isn’t one at your club start asking questions so we have less and less of these incidents.

“People playing sport should know where the nearest one is and everyone should know how to administer CPR.

Two days after the incident Roger had a stent inserted in an artery and returned home.

He was allowed to start playing golf eight weeks later and took part in a hockey tournament three weeks after that.

“As a result of what happened to me I don’t go to many hockey clubs now where they don’t have a defibrillator,” he added.

"I’m glad that I got through it and I’m still enjoying life.

“Life does carry on after such medical events and hopefully Christian Eriksen will make a full recovery and carry on playing too.”

Former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba retired on medical advice in 2012 after suffering a cardiac arrest during a match against Tottenham Hotspur.