Andrew’s story – saved on a football pitch

The day that changed Andrew’s life was 14 August 2021. After 20 years as a football referee, the game was more than a hobby, it was part of who he was. Even after retiring in 2020, Andrew chose to continue refereeing because it was something he loved.

On that warm Saturday afternoon, Andrew was assistant referee at Rainworth Miners Welfare Football Club in Mansfield. He completed his usual warm-up, felt well, and expected the match to be like any other.

Just 10 minutes into the game, Andrew felt an unusual sensation under his arm, as though someone was touching him. It was not painful and, because he had experienced it before, he initially thought it might be anxiety. Then a striking pain travelled into his jaw.

“I remember thinking, ‘This isn’t good, these can be signs of a heart attack,’” Andrew said. “But the pain eased a little, so I carried on, even though I didn’t feel completely right.”

At half-time, Andrew had some water, but he cannot remember what anyone talked about. He checked the football nets to make sure the game could continue and began walking back across the pitch. In that moment, he knew he was going to pass out.

“They call it the feeling of impending doom,” Andrew said. “I looked down at the grass. It was 4:05pm on Saturday afternoon. The next thing I knew, it was 6:30am on Sunday morning and I was in intensive care at the Royal Derby Hospital.”

A lifesaving response

Andrew had suffered a cardiac arrest. He fell straight backwards and broke his coccyx. At first, players thought he had fainted and put him in the recovery position, but the club physiotherapist quickly recognised that Andrew was in cardiac arrest and immediately began CPR.

A defibrillator was brought to the pitch and, after two shocks, Andrew’s heart started beating again. A trained fireman, who was playing on the day, helped by giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and several ambulances arrived. Because Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance was already on another mission, the Derby, Rutland and Leicestershire Air Ambulance was called. The crew worked on Andrew for a long time at the scene before he was stable enough to be flown directly to hospital, where a stent was fitted.

Andrew has no memory of the emergency treatment he received on the pitch. When he woke up, he felt blessed and relieved. He moved from intensive care to the cardiac ward and was later able to walk out of hospital. Just one month later, he was swimming a mile.

Since then, Andrew has chosen to support LNAA in any way he can. He volunteers, fundraises and shares his story through speaking engagements, which he finds incredibly rewarding. The physiotherapist who helped save his life has also gone on to raise enough money to fund three defibrillators.

Andrew’s son, Luke, had already wanted to take on Ironman Wales to show his children, Millie and Jack, what can be achieved when you put your mind to something. After Andrew’s cardiac arrest, the challenge took on even greater meaning.

Luke decided to fundraise for our second helicopter as part of Mission Possible 2, helping more families have the same chance Andrew had: fast access to specialist critical care when it matters most. Andrew’s daughter, Rachael, also supported the charity by running a half marathon and raising more than £2,000.

Andrew’s story shows the importance of bystander CPR, access to a defibrillator, and the rapid response of air ambulance crews. For Andrew and his family, those moments on the pitch changed everything.

“Without the people who stepped in that day, and without the air ambulance, I may not be here,” Andrew said. “That is why I want to help make sure the service is there for the next person who needs it.”