Legendary Liverpool captain Phil Thompson has been credited with saving former Everton player Tony Cottee's life.
Cottee, 54, who netted 99 goals for the Blues in 241 games between 1988-94, credits Kirkby-born Thompson's decision to seek medical help urgently when he fell ill over the summer as the key to his recovery.
The pair were staying in a West London hotel ahead of filming an advertisement for Sky TV the next day and Cottee told the Daily Mail : “I went to my room at 10pm and within five minutes I was suffering the worst headache I've ever had, and then it spread to my neck.
“We'd played golf that day and it was 75°F, so I just passed it off as sunstroke, thinking 'All I need is a good sleep.'
“It wasn't right. The pain in my neck was horrific and my head was ready to explode. I knew I was in trouble. I tossed and turned and then rang Thommo.
“He came down and was like, 'Flippin' heck, look at you". My eyes were popping out.
“He went to reception and, I didn't know this until later, paid for a doctor to come to the hotel.”
The doctor arrived and after a couple of jabs were administered, Cottee was immediately taken to hospital where a scan revealed he had suffered a brain haemorrhage.
Cottee recalls: “The specialist said: 'We need to get you to Charing Cross Hospital - now'. Next thing, I'm in the ambulance with flashing blue lights.
“It was frightening. I was rushed in for more tests and scans. When I came back up, my wife and daughter were there with Tony Gale and his partner. I could see in their faces they were scared.
“They said, 'You need a brain operation. I was thinking, 'Oh my God, this is serious.'”
Thankfully medical experts later determined that surgery was not necessary as they were confident the bleed had passed and was an isolated incident and after six weeks of rest, the Londoner returned to his television work.
Cottee said: “I was so lucky. It could have caused a stroke, an aneurysm, I could have dropped dead. It was a warning. I'd been doing too much.
“The first person I saw (on his return to the studio) was Thommo, I gave him the biggest cuddle.
“It was an emotional moment – and I never thought I'd say that after hugging Phil Thompson!
“I will forever be thankful to him, he was there when I needed him.
“If I'd stayed in bed all day and tried to ride through it, without that doctor coming, who knows what would have happened.”
