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6 months ago
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Aston Villa supporters have urged the club to hand a 'lifetime' season ticket to the woman who sprung to action to save a fan who suffered a cardiac arrest at their clash against Olympiacos on Thursday night.
The UEFA Conference League semi-final match was delayed after the incident happened on the stroke of half time, with fans evacuated from the lower stand of the Holte End at Villa Park.
A team of medics were quickly sent to aid the stricken fan who had collapsed as supporters dispersed from the area after the PA system urged them to clear the space to allow treatment to take place.
And shortly after, a photo emerged online of a woman running to the scene of the incident as fans pointed out she had helped saved the man's life and asked for help finding out who she was so she could be rewarded.
A caption accompanying the photo read: 'This is the woman who delivered potentially life saving CPR in L2 tonight. Find her. @AVFC get her a free season ticket for life.'
Aston Villa fans have hailed a paramedic who they claim saved a man's life after suffering a cardiac arrest during the team's clash against Olympiacos
Fans were rushed away from the Holte End as emergency services rushed to the scene at Villa Park where a man had collapsed
Fans later claimed the woman's name was Heidi Elliott, a paramedic who works for the East Midlands Ambulance Service - and said she deserved a lifetime season ticket
Fans later claimed the woman's name was Heidi Elliott, a paramedic who works for the East Midlands Ambulance Service and had been attending the game.
Supporters quickly led tributes to the 'amazing' paramedic and called her a 'hero' - as they urged Villa to recognise her with a season ticket.
A user on X, claiming to be the father of the stricken fan, joined the chorus of Villa supporters pleading for the club to recognise her.
'My son that collapsed, please @AVFCOfficial help me find her, she saved my boys life.'
Another account said he was the brother of the affected fan and also asked for help in finding the woman after 'the scariest moment of my life'.
'@AVFC twitter do ur thing and help me find the woman that saved my brother’s life, give her the praise she deserves.'
Another post from a user called Martin Millin - who says the paramedic was his daughter - described what happened just before she raced to the scene as he revealed she leapt over seats to save the man who collapsed.
A user on social media claiming he was the father of the stricken fan pleaded with fans to help him find the woman who saved his son
A man who said he was the father of the woman claimed she jumped over seats to save the fan who had collapsed
'That was my daughter,' he said. 'She's a paramedic over in Leicester. We were four rows above them when it happened. I turned around to find her jumping over the seats to get to him.'
Another said she had lost her brother to a cardiac arrest aged 33, adding: 'I cannot stress enough the importance of learning CPR. Please Villa, give this lady the recognition she deserves - and the season ticket. Whoever you are, you're a hero.'
One fan claimed the man affected 'someone of an age you'd never expect to have a cardiac arrest' as he joined the calls for her to receive a lifetime season ticket.
'Somehow losing a game doesn't seem too important right now does it,' he said, after Villa were beaten 4-2 by the Greek outfit.
As the incident unfolded, a black screen was held up by members of the emergency services as they tried to protect the individual from the view of thousands inside the stadium.
The second half of Aston Villa's Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiacos was delayed after the horror incident
An announcement was made asking fans to evacuate parts of the Holte End
An ambulance was quickly readied to take the fan to hospital while emotional fans watched the tragic scenes unfold inside the ground.
They were later carried out to the ambulance as fans of both teams demonstrated their support by clapping.
Players tried to keep warm by kicking the ball around inside the tunnel as they were momentarily held back from stepping out onto the pitch.
The second half was delayed by a matter of minutes as Villa and Olympiacos players anxiously waited inside the tunnel before later emerging.
It then got back underway as Aston Villa pulled a goal back through Ollie Watkins to reduce the deficit to 2-1 heading into the interval.
Moussa Diaby equalised at the start of the second half before the visitors replied with two quick-fire goals to take control of the semi-final encounter.
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