Hillis calls for more heart machines

ONE of Scotland's leading sports medic last night called for heart re-start machines to be available at every sporting event - no matter how minor.

Cardiac specialist Stewart Hillis, who doubles as the national football team doctor, issued his plea at the Craig Hodgkinson memorial match at Old Anniesland, where Glasgow Hawks beat Royal Navy 39-15.

Hodgkinson, the former Hawks player and serving Marine collapsed and died of a rare undetected heart condition on the eve of his 27th birthday while playing rugby for the Royal Navy in Cornwall.

Dr Hillis said: "Illnesses like Craig's can be hard to discover until it is too late, but sufferers could be saved if a specialised gadget is close by.

"This equipment is usually available at bigger sporting events where medical staff are in attendance, but not at matches or meetings further down the scale. These machines cost about the same as a decent TV, but can mean the difference between life and death."

Last night's tribute game marked the official launch of a campaign spearheaded by Craig's father, John, to raise funds to buy as many heart defibrillators as possible for sports venues in Scotland. They got off to a flying start as around 25,000 was made during the evening.

On the field, Hawks got off to an equally brisk start with a third-minute try by Stewart Smith in the wake of a tapped penalty. Then Ally Maclay galloped over from a Sandy Warnock pass. Josh Drauniniu clawed back five points with a solo effort for the visitors, only for Maclay to notch his double. Wayne John, nicknamed Cowboy, kept the Navy in the contest with a score on the brink of the interval.

The other Hawks touchdowns were claimed by former player-coach Marc Sitch, Chris Breckenridge, Eric Milligan, Stevie Gordon. Owen Salmon went over for the third RN score.