Fan taken ill during Congleton's play-off final loss thanks firefighter who saved his life
A football fan has thanked the off-duty firefighter who saved his life.
Congleton Town's recent play-off final clash at Hednesford Town was marred not only by the result but also by the moment an opposition fan was taken ill.
Stuart Wright, 60, became dizzy as the home side celebrated promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division following the 2-0 win.
His son, Jake, noticed something was amiss.
"I saw dad lean against the barrier and I thought he was just celebrating and that any minute he'd lift up his arms," the 32-year-old said.
"But he didn't, and when I got closer to him I realised he was out of it."
Jake lifted his dad off the barrier before shouting to the crowd, asking for medical help.
Up stepped Ade Wilkes, an off-duty Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service firefighter.
"Out of nowhere, Ade appeared and said, 'I know what to do, I'm a firefighter', and the relief I felt was amazing," Jake said.
"He got dad on his back and did CPR, then he told me to take my nephew away from the area while they were working on dad and my brother was speaking to the ambulance.
"Then an off-duty paramedic came over to help as well.
"They took it in turns to do chest compressions before the defibrillator was used."
Stuart needed four rounds from the defibrillator in order to get his heart working again and came to just as the air ambulance was landing to take him to hospital.
He is currently recovering in hospital and has since been diagnosed with a leak in one of his heart valves.
"I do believe that if my dad hadn't have been at the match and Ade hadn't have literally come to his aid that day, the worst could have happened," Jake said.
Stuart's wife, Larraine, added: "If it wasn't for Ade's quick actions and professionalism that day, it would have been a very different outcome, he saved Stuart's life.
"We want to pass on our deepest thanks from the bottom of mine and my children's hearts.
"Ade is an outstanding gentleman."
Since the match, Ade has received a special award at the school where he works as a pastoral manager and has received hundreds of messages from fellow Hednesford Town fans as well as the club.
"I'm chuffed to bits to know Stuart survived and is going to be okay," he said.
"I wasn't prepared for it, not like when we're on the truck preparing for a fire with casualties, it was completely different.
"It's like a switch went off in my head, I went into work mode and just did what I knew I had to do."
Ade, who is an on-call firefighter based in Cannock as part of orange watch, continued: "In all my 16 years at Cannock, I don't think I've had a better rescue, it was a very surreal day.
"When you're in the moment doing what you need to do to help that person, it's all adrenaline, but when I've been getting all these messages, it has really brought it all home how touch-and-go it was at that time.
"I'm so pleased I was able to help Stuart and his family and I hope he soon gets back to regular life at home."
Share:
