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BRIAN SOULSBY HELPED SAVE A MAN'S LIFE IN THE TOP TIER OF THE SOUTH STAND AT SATURDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF FINAL AGAINST SHEFFIELD UNITED 12:34, 28 May 2025Updated 13:36, 28 May
2025 A nurse leapt into action to save a fellow Sunderland fan's life who suffered a double cardiac arrest during the Championship play-off final at Wembley. Brian Soulsby was among
thousands of Sunderland supporters celebrating Eliezer Mayenda's equaliser against Sheffield United on Saturday when he spotted people nearby in distress. The father-of-two discovered a
man in his early 20s had collapsed, and Brian stepped up to lead the efforts to save him after his initial cardiac arrest. The incident unfolded eight rows back from Brian's seat, but
at first he could not find a pulse. With the help of another supporter, he began performing chest compressions, reviving the man once, before he then suffered another cardiac arrest. A
defibrillator was then delivered by a medic, and this helped to bring him back for a second time. Thankfully, due to this intervention, the man was admitted to hospital and is continuing to
recover. Brian's day job is as a nurse practitioner for the recovery at home team, a community service run by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust which cares for people
who have recently been released from hospital. As part of this role, Brian was taught basic life saving and immediate life support skills, and he is also first aid trained for his position
as a coach for the Under 10s and Under 7s sides of local team Wearside FC. Article continues below Brian said: "I can’t stress enough how important it is to be up to date with CPR
training. If anyone has the chance to attend training, then they should do. "It could be the difference between a positive outcome by responding quickly. Nobody knows when these skills
could be needed, as Saturday’s scenario demonstrates. "I’ve never performed CPR in my clinical practice in over 20 years. That is why I feel it is vital to have the great BLS and ILS
training that the trust provides. "This training has prepared me in having the knowledge, skills and confidence to perform CPR without hesitating. This is where credit needs to be given
to the Trust’s life support trainers. "I’ve had lots of messages from family, friends and colleagues since Saturday. However, the messages that have touched me the most are the ones I
received from the lad I helped from hospital, as well as his dad and brother. "To be thanked by people in the ground at full time by those that witnessed it was also very emotional for
me." Article continues below For more information on CPR, and how learning these important skills could save a life, visit the dedicated section of the NHS website here. JOIN OUR
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