Yes that is what their fans said . TBH they were pretty fair and honest about the game . More annoyed about the lack of immediate help given to their fan who had collapsed in the stand despite much attention trying to be given from both sets of fans Suspect a few stewards might be on the naughty step. Could have been very serious - thankfully the person involved is ok. EFL investigating now . https://mobile.twitter.com/AdamLeventhal/status/1554456668745961475
Of course I don't know the details of this particular incident, but we're starting to see regular occurrences of fans in stands trying to stop games because of medical incidents. Not all of these require the match to be stopped, and can be dealt with by St John's and other medical services around the stadium. I think the authorities have to be a bit careful to avoid ever other match being delayed whenever someone in the stands faints or passes out, while still ensuring actual emergencies are dealt with.
I agree with that F1. In fact I think the league have issued instructions not to stop games. In this instance it turns out it was someone who had existing issues and they had an allergic reaction and fainted. To be fair she was held in overnight at the hospital but released in the morning. I personally don't think it's a reason to stop a match and fans in the area overreacted . I believe Watford have put a defibrillator in each stand? (Could be more use to the team from time to time!) Certainly this assists heart attacks which seem the main medical emergency.
That is true -, obviously wasn’t serious enough to stop the game and was a long way from the pitch but certainly the family aren’t happy with the response of the stewards at first when help was asked for. https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foo...-of-horror-and-slam-stewards-response-3790715 Could have got very serious for the young girl . Of course everyone does panic in such situations and lose any sense of control or direction.
I was on the Vicarage Road terrace the day a fan had a heart attack, and did in fact die despite receiving attention from St. Johns. He was difficult to reach being right in the middle of a crowded terrace. The game was not stopped as the poor guy was taken on a stretcher around the dog track. The question that has to be asked, is how serious an event is it? That we don't know until medical assistance arrives, and in some cases time can be of an essence. We have seen team medics called into action, who one assumes have more equipment available than a volunteer organisation. I would rather see a game held up for a few minutes rather than witness another fan die. If it turns out to be not so serious, good.
Harsh to say, but damned if you do and damned if you don't really - I seem to remember adverse comments from some over the game being held up when Fez's pal had a heart attack - an incident which makes the “If someone was having a heart attack, they wouldn’t have stood a chance" comment unwarranted to my mind. I would expect any reputable newspaper to have been aware of that incident and comment appropriately.
I did 15+ years in the SJA, my main claim to fame is helping to stretcher off Luther Blissett. Made the back page of the ***. My mate was lucky: there was a paramedic in the row behind just a few seats along and a cardiac surgeon just a few rows directly behind us. Two former police officers in the group too. Update: he drove to the match on Monday! I'm not sure what medicines are in the kit of the SJA but unless one of the volunteers is a fully qualified nurse or doctor I don't think they can "prescribe"! Damned if they do, damned if they don't. Edit: I think I overstated how long at 20 years. Whatever, it was a long time and it is one of my few regrets in life having to give it up.
Club seem satisfied with the response. https://www.watfordfc.com/news/statement-medical-incident-august-1 I guess they aren't going to hammer their own stewards in public and the SJA guys who do a very good job.
It's always difficult in these situations, especially when there is little sign of progress in the view of the layman and the patients' condition deteriorates. People feel the need to do something, anything, without perhaps fully appreciating the work being put in by the SJA and the stewards. Trust me, I have several tales I can tell! I won't hear a bad word about the SJA anyway and on reflection and thinking of my own experience this is a fair statement by the Club. I think we can move on from this one.
