Footballer Feels Ill On The Field: Policeman Saves His Life

During a seven-a-side football final, the scene suddenly changes. From a hard-fought match on the field to a race against time to save a life. It happened in Gatteo a Mare, in the province of Forlì-Cesena, where a young footballer collapsed to the ground unconscious due to a serious illness. He was saved by a policeman on duty at the Vibo Valentia Police Headquarters, there in his role as referee of the tournament, together with a financier who was his colleague in charge of the match.

The episode occurred on June 15 during the national final between Argentinos Junior of Rome and Busana Young of Belluno. A few minutes into the second half, the worried cries of the crowd drew the referees' attention: a player, who had been substituted shortly before, had collapsed on the ground, unconscious. In an instant, the game stopped, and the scene turned into a medical emergency.

The police officer, assistant chief coordinator of the Vibo Valentia Flying Squad, immediately took control of the situation. While the finance officer evacuated the surrounding area, the officer began resuscitation, working non-stop for over twenty minutes. Only at the end, after seemingly endless moments, did the young athlete show signs of recovery. Still conscious, he was handed over to paramedics and rushed to Cesena Hospital , where he remains under observation but is out of danger.