Fan who had cardiac arrest at match makes CPR plea

Andy Wall's heart stopped and he stopped breathing while he was in the stands watching a football match in August 2023

A football fan who suffered a cardiac arrest at a match as he celebrated his team scoring has urged people to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

On 5 August 2023, Norwich City fan Andy Wall's heart stopped for 10 minutes as he sat in the stands watching a game at the club's Carrow Road stadium.

As part of a British Heart Foundation safety campaign, Mr Wall - whose life was saved by stewards and paramedics - went back to the club and met footballers who had been playing that day.

He said: "If it wasn't for me being here with people who knew how to do CPR and defibrillation, I was in seriously big trouble. I would not be here today."

Mr Wall, 45, from Poringland in Norfolk, thought he was too young to have a cardiac arrest.

He said the incident is something he relives all the time.

"There is so much more to it mentally and physically, it's been really tough and it's been a really long journey for me and it still is.

"The scars will never go away but I will always be grateful I have a second chance."

Angus Gunn, who was playing in the match when Andy Wall suffered a cardiac arrest, said it was "brilliant" how quickly Mr Wall got help

During his return to Carrow Road for the Every Minute Matters campaign, Mr Wall sat in the very seat he was in when the cardiac arrest struck.

He was there to support the British Heart Foundation's call for people to go online and learn how to perform CPR.

Norwich City goalkeeper Angus Gunn was playing on the day Mr Wall's heart stopped.

He said meeting Mr Wall at the club's training ground during the visit was "inspiring".

"It's just brilliant how quick everything was dealt with and Andy is here today and it just shows how important this campaign is going to be.

"I've known a few people who have had similar things happen to them and to see how people can come back to that and get back to everyday life it's inspiring to see," he added.