Family thank off-duty firefighter who saved man's life at Hednesford Town match

The family of a man who took ill at the Hednesford Town promotion match have thanked the off-duty firefighter who 'saved his life'.

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Stuart Wright, 60, from Wimblebury, had been attending the Hednesford Town v Congleton Town match at Hednesford on May 3 when he was taken ill.

He was attending the game with his two sons, Jake and Mitchell, along with his 10-year-old grandson, when he suddenly complained about feeling dizzy.

The Hednesford Town supporters were celebrating their side's play-off success when Jake noticed that something was wrong.

Ade Wilkes (left) rushed to help save the life of Hednesford Town fan Stuart Wright (right) when he was taken ill at the group's match with Congleton Town

Jake, 32, from Rugeley, said: "I saw dad lean against the barrier and I thought he was just celebrating and that any minute he'd lift up his arms.

"But he didn't, and when I got closer to him, I realised he was out of it."

Jake, a car factory worker, shouted to his brother Mitchell, who called 999.

He said, "I lifted dad off the barrier and took his weight, then I shouted to the crowd that we needed medical help.

"Out of nowhere, Ade appeared and said, 'I know what to do, I'm a firefighter,' and the relief I felt was amazing.

"He got dad on his back and did CPR, then he told me to take my nephew away from the area while they were working on dad and my brother was speaking to the ambulance.

There was a rather dramatic scene at the end of Hednesford's play-off triumph as the air ambulance landed on the pitch at the end of the game to airlift a supporter to hospital after they suffered a heart attack during the celebrations (Picture: Jim Wall) — A Midlands Air Ambulance helicopter landed on the pitch shortly after Stuart took ill

"Then an off-duty paramedic came over to help as well. They took it in turns to do chest compressions before the defibrillator was used."

Stuart needed four rounds from the defibrillator in order to get his heart working again and came just as the air ambulance was landing to take him to the hospital.

He is currently recovering in the hospital and his since been diagnosed with a leak in one of his heart valves.

"I do believe that if my dad hadn't been at the match and Ade hadn't literally come to his aid that day, the worst could have happened," Jake said.

Stuart's wife, Larraine, added: "If it wasn't for Ade's quick actions and professionalism that day, it would have been a very different outcome. He saved Stuart's life.

"We want to pass on our deepest thanks from the bottom of my heart and my children's hearts. Ade is an outstanding gentleman."

Ade Wilkes, who is an on-call firefighter based in Cannock as part of the orange watch, said: "I’m chuffed to bits to know Stuart survived and is going to be okay.

Air Ambulance at Hednesford — Fans were celebrating when Stuart took ill, however, off-duty firefighter Ade was able to rush to his aid

“I wasn’t prepared for it, not like when we’re on the truck preparing for a fire with casualties, it was completely different.

“It’s like a switch went off in my head, I went into work mode and just did what I knew I had to do. In all my 16 years at Cannock, I don’t think I’ve had a better rescue; it was a very surreal day."

Since the match, Ade has received a special award at the school where he works as a pastoral manager and has received hundreds of messages from fellow Hednesford Town fans, as well as the club.

He said: "When you’re in the moment doing what you need to do to help that person, it’s all adrenaline, but when I’ve been getting all these messages, it has really brought it all home how touch-and-go it was at that time.

"I’m so pleased I was able to help Stuart and his family, and I hope he soon gets back to regular life at home."