A REFEREE saved the life of a football fan, who suffered a heart attack during a match, using the club’s defibrillator.

Mike Pedler was officiating a game between Caldicot Town Ladies and visitors Dafen Ladies AFC on Sunday, October 28, when the man collapsed on the pitchside.

The former army medic carried out CPR using the club’s defib to resusciate him before paramedics arrived, and the man, who is from the Caldicot area, has since been reported as making a good recovery.

The referee said: ”I started CPR straight away. There was no response and I feared the worst.

“We used the defib straight away, and he began to move, but for the second time I couldn’t feel a pulse.

“I carried on with CPR and thankfully the paramedics arrived and by then we had managed to revive him.”

Caldicot FC chairman Wayne Jones said: “The defibrillator is available for the usage of the whole community in an emergency.

“I would encourage every club in Wales to invest in one.”

The fan’s son posted his thanks on Facebook to Mr Pedler shortly after the incident, saying: “I have to say a massive thank you for your efforts on Sunday.

“Dad is doing well and is hopefully having his angiogram tomorrow, then will be off to the Heath (hospital) for his defib. Again a massive thank you from all the family.

Mr Pedler posted: “I hope the gentleman I gave CPR to at Caldicot Town AFC this afternoon makes a full recovery. Lost him twice but got him back. Hopefully in safe hands now paramedics are with him.”

Later he added: “I’m glad your dad is doing well and on the mend. I just happened to be in the right place and did what anyone else who has the first aid knowledge would do.”

Defibrillators have been placed in five other locations around the town by Caldicot Town Council.

In another incident – at Lydney Town’s Recreation Ground – two days later (Tuesday, October 30), home striker Ross Gabriel was rushed to hospital with a broken nose and eye socket after a clash of heads with a Bishop’s Cleeve opponent just before the final whistle.

A Lydney Town FC statement later said: “Thanks for all the messages for Ross. He is out of hospital having sustained a broken nose, his eye socket has been broken in several places with all the nasty cuts and bruises associated with such injuries. We all wish him a speedy recovery.”

The player managed to joke about the incident when thanking well wishers on Twitter, saying: “Cheers everyone, I do love a header.”