Footballer’s life dramatically saved by opposing player
Dynamo Kiev's visit to Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on Sunday was marred by a nasty incident involving midfielder Oleg Gusev but that was eclipsed by the heroic work of an opposing player.
Gusev lost consciousness in the 25th minute after the Dynamo captain collided horribly with Dnipro goalkeeper Denis Boyko's knee.
It quickly became very clear that he could not breathe with his airways blocked and players from both sides frantically swarmed around him.
But it was Jaba Kankava, playing for Dnipro, who crucially yanked Gusev's tongue back out from his throat and very likely ended up saving his life by acting so quickly.The events all unfolded in a matter of seconds, but if Gusev had been left untreated and without oxygen the results could well have been disastrous.
Fortunately, thanks to the quick thinking of Kankava and others, Gusev was taken to hospital by ambulance as soon as he regained consciousness. A 19-year-old footballer in Jordan died from a similar incident last November.
John Terry was famously saved during the 2007 Carling Cup Final after he swallowed his tongue.
