Glasgow hockey player who ‘died’ for nearly ten minutes after collapsing hails best pal for saving his life
A HOCKEY player who ‘died’ for nearly ten minutes after collapsing during a match told how his best pal saved his life.
Ewan Fraser, 30, said childhood friend Andrew Allan’s first aid training kept him alive when he stopped breathing.
Andrew performed chest compressions as he realised his Clydesdale teammate was going into cardiac arrest — while two other players administered rescue breaths and tracked down a defibrillator.
Ewan said: “I was told that my heart had stopped for nine and a half minutes, so I’d essentially died.
“Their quick-thinking actions kept me alive until the ambulance arrived. I’ll never be able to repay Andrew and my teammates — without them I wouldn’t be here.”
Ewan fell to the ground during a friendly in Milngavie, near Glasgow, on September 4.
The car rental firm boss was taken to the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where he was resuscitated and admitted to intensive care.
He had an internal heart-start device fitted but the cause of his brush with death remains unknown.
However Ewan, of Shawlands, Glasgow, is back training less than six weeks later.
He added: “It’s nice knowing my mate will always have my back. I’d do exactly the same thing for him.”
Sales director Andrew, 30, of the city’s Newlands, learned first aid through his work three years ago.
He said: “I never imagined having to do it all on my best friend. It was pretty scary but we remained pretty calm and focused.
Kevin McDonald training with Dundee as he kickstarts comeback following kidney transplant
“It just goes to show how important first aid training is. It only takes a couple of hours.”
He is now fronting St Andrew’s First Aid’s call for hero nominations for next year’s Scottish First Aid Awards.
The charity’s chief exec Stuart Callison said: “Andrew’s quick-thinking and delivery of CPR saved his friend’s life.”
We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scottishsundigital@news.co.uk or call 0141 420 5300