Physios save referee’s life
When East Midlands Referees Society match official Tim Wilcox collapsed while refereeing a Luton v Biggleswade league match at the beginning of January, he had suffered a heart attack followed by a full cardiac arrest. Thanks to the immediate, outstanding action by physios from both the home and visiting teams, Scott Hills and Lauren Poole, Tim’s life was saved and he is now recuperating at home.
Nigel Boot-Handford, Match Officials Manager for East Midlands Rugby Union Referees, said their response was “vital in resuscitating Tim and keeping him alive until the paramedics arrived and were able to take over. The physios, with the use of the onsite defibrillator, performed outstanding lifesaving action.”
Tim was taken to Harefield Hospital where he underwent medical procedures and was then kept in the Intensive Treatment Unit for 12 days before moving to recover. He was transferred to Milton Keynes Hospital and then to Oxford Heart Centre for further tests before, after five weeks, being discharged to recover at home.
While in recovery Tim sent a message to thank Luton and Biggleswade who “basically saved my life by doing the right thing”.
He said “I am extremely grateful to the staff and players from Luton and Biggleswade who, not only had the correct kit in working order, but had people who knew how to use it and what to do. This is going to take some months of recovery and rehab and is probably the end of my refereeing career. But I am a very lucky man who happened to hit a brick wall with the right people around me.”
Nigel Boot-Handford added: “As referees we are always guests of the clubs we officiate at, and often we are there on our own. The clubs’ actions on the day proved that the rugby family is still strong. The care and concern shown for Tim, a relative stranger in their midst, is heartening and we will always be in their debt.
This is another reminder that the role of the defibrillator at rugby clubs should never be underestimated and East Midlands Rugby Union were reminding clubs of this and advising them to ensure they are maintained and working.
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