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Sophie Doughty

Gateshead football fan discharged from hospital after collapsing at Blyth Spartans game

A football fan who collapsed during a match between Blyth Spartans and Gateshead FC is now recovering at home.

The game, at Blyth's Croft Park Stadium on Sunday was halted briefly just before half time after the Gateshead supporter became ill in the stands.

Two Spartans players, Robbie Dale and JJ O’Donnell raised the alarm and jumped into the crowd to help by making space for medical staff to get through.

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The elderly fan was also assisted by medical staff from both clubs before being taken to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington.

Today a spokesman for Blyth Spartans FC has confirmed that the supporter was discharged from hospital last night and is now recovering at home.

The club has also thanked all the staff and players who helped out in the emergency.

The spokesman said: " We would like to put on record our thanks to both sets of physios who provided an extremely fast response, with our own physio Gary Neasham staying with the fan until an ambulance arrived.

"A special mention should also go to players Robbie Dale and JJ O’Donnell who once realising there was something wrong, immediately signalled for help and made space in the stand for the medics to reach the fan.

"It was extremely concerning, but we’re pleased that the fan is now recovering. Incidents like this really put things into perspective and show there are more important things than football rivalries."

A spokeswoman for the North East Ambulance Service said yesterday: “We had a call from a paramedic at the ground, who requested an ambulance at 4.25pm. It was for an elderly patient who had collapsed in the stands. One ambulance crew attended and took the patient to Northumbria hospital.”

Since the incident, fans from both teams have taken to social media to wish the supporter a speedy recovery.

Blyth Spartans won the game 2-1.

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