Fan in 'serious but stable' condition after medical emergency at Newport v Notts County

An air ambulance landed on the Rodney Parade pitch after the ground had been evacuated

Newport County's Rodney Parade stadium was evacuated less than an hour before the opening League Two game of the season against Notts County.

The evacuation took place following a medical emergency involving a supporter at the ground.

Two separate air ambulances landed on the pitch as part of the emergency response.

Notts County said in a statement: "A Notts fan who was taken ill before today's game is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

"We will provide further updates when appropriate and we continue to send our thoughts and best wishes to the supporter and their family."

Notts County manager Mark Paterson had earlier confirmed the spectator taken ill was a Magpies supporter.

"We wish him and his family all the best and it just puts things into perspective," Paterson told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"We as a football club, me and my staff and players were willing to wait as long as we possibly had to, to make sure that the supporter was taken care of and he got what he needed."

Spectators as well as members of the media were told to leave the stands but were allowed to return just after 15:10 BST with the game starting at 16:00 BST.

That was after the supporter had been stabilised before being taken to hospital.

Newport posted on social media: "Due to a supporter being taken ill in the stands, an air ambulance has landed on the pitch.

"We send our very best wishes to the individual concerned."

Newport manager David Hughes, who was in charge for his first League Two game, said everyone's thoughts were with the supporter who had been taken ill.

"He and his family are in everybody's thinking," Hughes said after the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw.