Watford fan stable in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest and receiving CPR

Watford’s clash with Chelsea was overshadowed after a supporter collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest.

During a break in play in the 10th minute while Watford defender Adam Masina needed treatment, players from both sides alerted medical staff from both clubs to the emergency unfolding in the Graham Taylor Stand.

They rushed across the pitch and up to the scene to help paramedics as the area around the male fan was cleared.

Watford v Chelsea was stopped after a medical emergency in the crowd

Players were escorted off the pitch so medics could focus on the medical incident

Referee David Coote spoke to both benches and captains before taking the teams off the pitch while treatment on the male supporter continued.

After 20 minutes the supporter was in a stable enough condition to be carried out on a stretcher, into an ambulance and taken to the neighbouring Watford General Hospital for further treatment.

The game was delayed by around 30 minutes with both sets of players refusing to return and resume following a five minute warm up until they received positive news on the supporter, which eventually arrived.

Attention was first brought to the medical incident as Adam Mesina went down injured

Watford posted on their Twitter account: ‘The players have returned to the field in preparation of play resuming.

‘Our thoughts are with the fan – who had a cardiac arrest but has now been stabilised – and all those affected. Thank you to the medical staff, players and fans for their quick response.’

There was warm applause from those in attendance as the fan who was taken ill was escorted from the stands by medical staff. 

Players from both sides appeared to point out what was going on to referee David Coote

The supporter suffered a cardiac arrest but was stabilised and taken to hospital

Talking on Amazon, former Chelsea player Joe Cole said: ‘That’s someone who’s gone to a football game and found themselves in a precarious position – we just have to be thankful we have the medical staff, 

‘One thing I would say is that all the football clubs I’ve played for the the medical staff have been fantastic, In a situation like this we just have to be happy the person is stable’

Fellow pundit, and  former Everton and Liverpool goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis added: ‘In football stadiums recently we’ve literally seen live and death situations – in the Euros, you couldn’t be in a better-equipped place to deal with something like this.’  

The supporter as well as medical staff at Vicarage Road were given a round of applause afteras the fan was taken away