Soccer captain collapses with heart attacks

A HUNTINGDON football club captain is recovering in hospital after suffering several heart attacks on the sidelines of a pitch on Sunday. Alan Thwaites, 26, who captains the BRJ first team, collapsed at Huntingdon Outdoor Recreation Centre, after leaving

A HUNTINGDON football club captain is recovering in hospital after suffering several heart attacks on the sidelines of a pitch on Sunday.

Alan Thwaites, 26, who captains the BRJ first team, collapsed at Huntingdon Outdoor Recreation Centre, after leaving the pitch with a shoulder injury during a match against Royal Oak.

Yesterday (Tuesday), he was said to be awake and stable at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

Club members paid tribute to the quick-thinking and training of the leisure centre duty manager, Matt Taylor, 24, who gave Mr Thwaites oxygen before an ambulance arrived.

Vice President of the BRJ Sports and Social club and football club secretary, Sean Hewitt, said: "We are all absolutely devastated by what happened to Alan, but we'd like to say a massive thank you to the young gentleman who came to his assistance and stabilised him.

"We now hear that Alan is on the mend and that is the best news we could receive."

Mr Thwaites, a computer programmer from Huntingdon, has played for the club as centre-back for five years.