A REFEREE and a teammate saved the life of amateur goalkeeper Gerry Lawlor at the weekend, when his head collided with a post in a Wallasey and District Sunday Soccer League match.

Gerry, 21, from Wallasey, was playing for Third Division side Stanley's Cask against Saddle when he banged his head against a post. He had a fit and his colour was rapidly turning purple after swallowing his tongue.

Fortunately, referee Colin Hayes and Gerry's teammate, Andrew Costall, were on hand to give First Aid. Colin, a class one referee from the Wirral Sunday Soccer League, stopped his game on a nearby pitch to give Gerry life-saving attention.

An ambulance arrived, but got stuck in mud on the field. Division Two sides Gogglebox and Hamilton's immediately stopped their match on another pitch and pushed the ambulance clear.

Gerry was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital Accident & Emergency Unit, where he had five stitches in a head wound and was sent home.

Brian Smedley, Stanley's Cask club secretary, told me: "I honestly thought we'd lost Gerry. He lost all co-ordination and his colour was rapidly changing to purple, which was frightening. He is a very lucky lad and owes his life to Colin and Andrew. I'd like to thank everyone at the Saddle, especially Geoff James and secretary Ray Buckley for their magnificent help and support, and to Gogglebox and Hamilton's for rescuing the ambulance."

Referee Colin modestly played down his role. "Players and officials from Stanley's Cask and the Saddle were asking for anyone who knew First Aid, so I stopped my game and tended to him," he said. "He was having a fit and his colour was changing and he was one lucky lad."

Gerry himself was oblivious to the situation. "All I remember is my head smashing against the post and lying on the floor," he told me. "I just couldn't breathe - everyone thought I wouldn't survive. I would just like to thank Colin, Andrew and everyone for saving me.

"I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for them."

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