Leeds United and Leeds Rhinos amongst Yorkshire clubs supporting 'Restart a Heart Day'

Yorkshire Ambulance Service has recruited the support of the county’s top 10 football league clubs to help promote the importance of the technique that played a vital role in saving Christian Eriksen when he had a cardiac arrest on the pitch at the Euro 2020 tournament.

Players from Leeds United, Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Rotherham United, Doncaster Rovers, Barnsley FC, Huddersfield Town, Bradford City and Harrogate Town, as well as Leeds Rhinos, star in a video which provides simple instructions on how to perform hands-only CPR.

Paramedics and volunteers will also be on hand to provide CPR training to fans before league matches throughout October in the hope that 29-year-old Erikson’s resuscitation has been the wake-up call that many need to learn the skill.

Jason Carlyon, Community Engagement Manager with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “So many of us saw how the quick reaction of witnesses undoubtedly saved Christian Erikson’s life, as was the case with fellow footballing professionals Fabrice Muamba, Glen Hoddle and David Ginola.

“But not everyone is as fortunate. In the UK, less than 10% of people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside hospital survive, partly because they don’t receive early CPR and defibrillation but together we can change that statistic.

“Anyone can learn CPR and anyone can use those skills to save a life.

"If you see someone collapsed and not breathing, call 999 and start chest compressions straight away to ensure that blood keeps pumping around patient’s body. Without that early intervention, it becomes increasingly difficult for our paramedics to achieve a good outcome.”

The sporting partnership comes as Yorkshire Ambulance Service prepares to visit 109 secondary schools to teach around 30,000 students how to perform CPR today to mark Restart a Heart Day.

In recognition of the value of teaching CPR to young people, Yorkshire Ambulance Service is presenting a bravery award to 12-year-old Henry Collett, who used CPR to save his dad Jules earlier this year.

The presentation will take place on Friday 15 October at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance base when Jules and Henry will be reunited with some of the ambulance staff involved his life-saving attempt.

Henry, of Hipperholme, near Halifax, added: “CPR is so important to me because without it, my dad wouldn’t be here now. Everyone should learn CPR, you never

know when you might need to use it.”

The Restart a Heart campaign is also being supported by:

- Jo Stanley who saved her husband Nigel’s life by using CPR when he collapsed unexpectedly at their home in Thornes, Wakefield.

- Hallam FC sports therapist Shannon Brooks who helped to resuscitate assistant referee Andrew Jarvis when he suffered a cardiac arrest during a football match in August.

- Yorkshire Ambulance Service clinician Shonagh Murton, whose husband’s tragic death at the age of 47 from a cardiac arrest, has inspired her to teach CPR at her son’s school on Restart a Heart Day.

Ambulance staff and volunteers will be on hand to teach CPR at football grounds throughout October, players and mascots will be wearing Restart a Heart campaign t-shirts, CPR videos will be played on the big screens and there will be information in match-day programmes.

The activity will take place as follows:

- 16 October - Sheffield United v Stoke City

- 16 October - Rotherham United v Portsmouth

- 16 October - Doncaster Rovers v Wycombe Wanderers

- 16 October - Bradford City v Bristol Rovers

- 20 October - Huddersfield Town v Birmingham City

- 20 October - Hull City v Peterborough United

- 23 October - Sheffield Wednesday v Lincoln City

- 23 October - Leeds United v Wolves.