Physio says teamwork saved Glasgow rugby player’s life

By DARREN HAMILTON
Published on 07/01/2013 00:00

A PHYSIOTHERAPIST has told how she helped save the life of a rugby player who suffered a heart attack during a match.

Jim Clarke, 51, was playing in a veterans match for Glasgow Hutchesons’ Aloysians against Clydebank on Saturday when he collapsed.

Vicky Fletcher, 30, who was on standby at a match nearby, rushed to the player’s aid along with colleague Leigh Moore.

Their actions helped save Mr Clarke, who had stopped breathing for six minutes.

Ms Fletcher said: “Myself and Leigh spotted that the player was down on the other pitch and that he was being given cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

“It was really serious. One of the other players, who was also a doctor, was trying to resuscitate him and we ran over and helped.

“Eventually, a rapid response crew arrived.

“By the time he got into the ambulance he had a heartbeat again, which everyone was obviously delighted about.”

Mr Clarke, a civil engineer from Glasgow, was rushed to the city’s Western Infirmary where he is expected to make a full
recovery.