'Rivalries put aside' - Gyollai on coming to ill steward's aid

Glentoran goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai has explained how his natural instinct led him to help deliver a defibrillator to an ill Linfield steward 'as soon as possible' during the second half of the clubs' Irish Cup last-16 tie at the Oval on Friday night.

Gyollai grabbed the equipment which ambulance staff were transporting, raced across the pitch and rushed into the section of the ground housing Linfield supporters in an attempt to help medical staff who were treating the man.

The Linfield steward is reported to be recovering well after suffering cardiac trouble.

"It was a weird situation. I was just about to take a goal-kick and I heard the usual whistles from behind the goal," the Hungarian goalkeeper told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme.

"As soon as I took the goal-kick the referee blew up the game and as I looked to the left I could see there was a bit of a commotion going on.

"I wasn't sure what was going on but it became clear that people were huddled around one person. That's when we knew something's not right."

'Defib needed'

The Glens stopper soon realised a medical emergency was unfolding.

"It was just the fact that I'd seen the doctor and the physiotherapists run across the pitch and then a little while later I saw the ambulance staff coming over.

"Then I just saw the little red defib box in the lady's hand [one of the ambulance staff] and I thought 'if there's something wrong the first thing that's going to be needed is the defib'.

"I ran over, grabbed it out of her hand and got there as soon as possible and made sure that if it was needed it got there asap and gave it to someone who was qualified to use it and to make sure the person was ok."

Gyollai, who is in his first season with the east Belfast Irish Premiership club but recently signed a contract extension, and scored a free-kick from his own half in December, welcomed reports that the steward was recovering well.

"The main thing is that he was ok, whether it was me, whether it was the extra oxygen, the fans who helped him up, the main thing is that everyone came together, put rivalries aside and tried to help this man as best as possible.

"Having seen a few unfortunate incidents at games in recent years you just see the red box coming across and you just think 'that could be crucial to saving someone's life' and getting it to him as soon as possible was my main priority.

"I just ran into the stand, gave it to the person who was closest and went back onto the pitch, just hoping the man was ok."