A Group of Footballers Save Referee's Life After Heart Attack During Match

"Congratulations to everyone!" With these three words, Madrid's Emergency Services expressed their gratitude to the players of Águilas de Moratalaz and CD Alzola Halcones 'A' from the Preferente Aficionados league for their actions on the pitch. It was not for their skill with the ball, but for saving the life of the match referee, who suffered a heart attack during the game.

Just minutes after the initial whistle, the 29-year-old referee, according to witnesses, collapsed on the grass of the Moratalaz municipal sports complex in Madrid. Immediately, a 19-year-old player began performing cardiac massage, joined by the rest of the footballers and attendees at the match.

Together, they managed to maintain the man's pulse until the arrival of Samur, which has a base near the sports facility. They used a semi-automatic external defibrillator (AED) and succeeded in reversing the cardiac arrest.

The referee regained his pulse and consciousness and was transported around 1:00 PM last Sunday to Madrid's Gregorio Marañón Hospital.