CHELSEA FAN REUNITED WITH MATCH LIFESAVER
A football fan has been reunited with the volunteer who saved his life after he went into cardiac arrest at a Chelsea match.
Doctors said it was a "miracle" Paul Archer, 66, survived last year after he collapsed at Stamford Bridge and was clinically dead for 20 minutes.
Mr Archer hugged St John Ambulance volunteer Prince Tandukar as they reunited at Chelsea's training ground.
"You have broken all my ribs - but I love you for it," he joked.
Mr Archer added: "Prince - what an apt name.
"I am so grateful to be able to thank this impressive and humble individual."
Lifelong Chelsea fan Mr Archer collapsed during the match against Manchester City in November.
Remembering the incident, Mr Tandukar said he first knew something was wrong when he heard shouting and screaming.
He said he thought of his grandfather in Nepal who had died less than two weeks before from a heart attack and who he believed could have been saved if someone had known how to do CPR on him.
"I realised someone needed urgent help, so I ran up around 15 or so rows," he said, where he found Mr Archer slumped in his chair making short and sharp breaths.
He continued: "I couldn't find a pulse, so I tried for a pulse in his neck which is usually stronger, but nothing.
"Then the gasps stopped altogether and he slumped forward."
The third-year University of Buckingham medical student then made the call to get Mr Archer to a nearby first aid room where he could begin CPR.
"I was full of adrenalin and on my first compression I heard a pop and knew I had cracked Mr Archer's ribs," he said.
"This didn't deter me as I knew this could happen and for CPR to work, it needs to be forceful. It was a sign I was doing it correctly.
"I was doing CPR solidly for around eight minutes or so, I think. I just went into the zone."
Mr Archer and his sons also got to meet other medics who played a role in saving his life - as well as Chelsea players - at the Cobham training ground.
St John Ambulance chief commissioner Ann Cable said: "St John is enormously proud of Prince for his fast response and putting into practice his first-aid skills to save Mr Archer's life.
"Our amazing volunteers work hard to keep football fans up and down the country safe but we would like more fans to take the time to learn CPR - a simple skill - that really does save lives."
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2024-03-03T12:01:38Z dg43tfdfdgfd