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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Glen Williams

The terrifying moment ex-Swansea City striker collapses on the pitch just as he did against Tottenham

Former Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis once again sparked fears after he collapsed during a game in Saudi Arabia.

Medics rushed on to the pitch after the 35-year-old striker fell to the ground and his Al-Hilal team-mates called for immediate attention from the touchline.

Swans fans will have seen this sight before, of course, when the forward collapsed just minutes into the South Wales club's Premier League clash with Tottenham back in 2015. He was tended to for more than four minutes at White Hart Lane and was carried off on a stretcher with an oxygen mask.

But the alarming episode was once again repeated on Friday night in Al-Hilal's Saudi Pro League defeat by Al-Ahli.

Gomis fell to the floor just 13 minutes into the clash, dropping to his knees before laying motionless on his front.

The former France international suffers from vasovagal syncope - a condition which causes a person's heart rate and blood pressure to plummet owing to a number of triggers such as feeling nauseous, drawing blood, sudden changes in temperature and stress.

WARNING: The below video contains footage some viewers may find distressing.

The forward, thankfully, recovered to get back to his feet before and even managed to complete the full 90 minutes of the match.

He also offered supporters and concerned onlookers a reassuring message after the match.

“Thanks for your many messages," he wrote on Twitter.

“More fear than harm. We will continue to fight for @Alhilal_FC to be champion.

“Thanks again, your lion who loves you very much.”

Gomis had also collapsed while out on the pitch playing for his former club Galatasaray.

The Frenchman scored 17 goals in two seasons at the Liberty Stadium before sealing a season-long loan to Marseille for the 2016/17 campaign.

The 12-cap France international was sold permanently to Turkish giants Galatasaray in 2017 before moving to Saudi Arabia two seasons later.

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