Daniel Gyollai: Glens goalkeeper on coming to ill steward’s aid

The Glens stopper soon realised a medical emergency was unfolding.

“It was just the fact that I’d seen the doctor and the physiotherapists run across the pitch and then a little while later I saw the ambulance staff coming over.

“Then I just saw the little red defib box in the lady’s hand [one of the ambulance staff] and I thought ‘if there’s something wrong the first thing that’s going to be needed is the defib’.

“I ran over, grabbed it out of her hand and got there as soon as possible and made sure that if it was needed it got there asap and gave it to someone who was qualified to use it and to make sure the person was ok.”

Gyollai, who is in his first season with the east Belfast Irish Premiership club but recently signed a contract extension, and scored a free-kick from his own half in December, welcomed reports that the steward was recovering well, external.

“The main thing is that he was ok, whether it was me, whether it was the extra oxygen, the fans who helped him up, the main thing is that everyone came together, put rivalries aside and tried to help this man as best as possible.

“Having seen a few unfortunate incidents at games in recent years you just see the red box coming across and you just think ‘that could be crucial to saving someone’s life’ and getting it to him as soon as possible was my main priority.

“I just ran into the stand, gave it to the person who was closest and went back onto the pitch, just hoping the man was ok.”