A FOOTBALLER who swallowed his tongue after collapsing on the pitch has said: “It’s is not every day your best pal saves your life”.

Joe Finlay was rushed to hospital after going down with about 20 minutes left of the second half as Saturday amateur side Dunbar Athletic took on Bo’ness United in an away fixture.

Paramedics were called but Andrew Thorburn, player-coach of the county side, rushed to give his friend first aid until they arrived.

Defender Joe told the Courier he could remember playing in the game but had little memory of the incident when he woke up in Forth Valley Hospital, Larbert.

Joe said: “It was a stroke of luck. [Andrew] is obviously first aid trained and used to work at the swimming pool in Dunbar.

“He is not first aid trained at our work now but still remembered what to do.

“It is not every day your best pal saves your life.”

Severe concussion

The two sides were contesting a Rex Gallagher Cup quarter-final, with the hosts leading 3-2, when the incident happened.

Joe, who works alongside Andrew at Pure Malt Products in Haddington, remembered a team-mate had headed the ball and noted it was “rock solid”.

The 33-year-old also headed the ball and collapsed moments later.

The father of three, who has daughters aged 10 and one, as well as a five-year-old son, was unconscious before being taken to hospital, where various scans and blood tests were carried out.

However, he was released from hospital after being diagnosed with a severe concussion.

Joe, who, like Andrew, lives in Dunbar, has now decided to step away from the game after the scare.

He added: “I have hung up the boots.

“I never got told to do it – that’s just off my own back. It is not worth the risk, especially with young kids.

“It was a wee bit of a scare so that will do me.”

'I went into autopilot'

Dunbar Athletic play in the Championship of the Lothians and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association (LEAFA) and won the Rex Gallagher Cup last season.

Head coach Andrew, who was playing due to a shortage of players, told the Courier how he stepped forward to help his team-mate following the incident.

He crossed the pitch and found that his team-mate’s airway was blocked by his tongue.

After moving his tongue, he put him in the recovery position while a phone call was made to the paramedics.

He said: “I did not really think about it.

“I just went into autopilot.

“I was a lifeguard for 19 years and after the game I was a wee bit shaken up.

“During the game, I was not thinking about it and just went into autopilot.”

Andrew, who previously played alongside Joe at West Barns Star, was also full of praise for both the opposition and the referee.

He added: “I sent the players into the changing rooms and they were a bit shaky.

“The referee, who was amazing, he gave us all the scenarios and said we have got 20 minutes left to play.

“He recommended we did not go back out because some of the players were distraught after seeing what happened.

“We decided not to bother and I was contacted by the league.

“I just told them to give Bo’ness the tie.”