Tottenham Defender Sergio Reguilon Opens up on Newcastle Fan’s Cardiac Arrest

Posted on the 23 October 2021 by Maxiel

Sergio Reguilon is anxious to seek out out if there have been any medical bulletins filtering south from Tyneside. 'How is he?' he desires to know. 'Still in hospital? I hope he is feeling OK and back at home soon.

'We want to invite him to a game. Maybe the game against Newcastle at home in April. If he is OK and if he wants to come that would be perfect.'

It will be a joyous sequel to the distressing scenes of the medical emergency which unfolded late within the first half of Tottenham 's win at St James' Park on Sunday, when Alan George Smith, an 80-year-old Newcastle supporter, collapsed with a cardiac arrest.

'I don't know why I appeared up into the stands at that second,' recollects Reguilon, talking in his rapid-fire English. 'Maybe I heard the people shouting "stop, stop" but I looked up there, and I saw one man lying down and another man pumping his chest with the heart massage.

'I looked at the man's face and I might see it was not good. I assumed, "This guy is dying" and I used to be shaken and nervous. I went shortly to the referee to say, "Please stop the game, the man is dying and we need some medical help, hurry up".

'I am only here for one year from Spain and there are many technical words I don't know, like defibrillator, so I spoke with Eric Dier to inform him the medical doctors have to convey on a defibrillator.'

Fast-thinking by everybody involved saved the person's life. Followers close by raised the alarm and off-duty medics within the crowd rushed to assist, together with a junior physician known as Tom Prichard who took over life-saving CPR till St John Ambulance employees and Newcastle's membership physician had been on the scene.

'These guys are the heroes,' says Reguilon. 'It was thanks to the amazing reaction of the fans and people in the crowd and the doctors who were there to see the game and rushed to help in that moment, they saved the man's life. Now we have to start out educating these abilities in faculties so all people has them.

'I don't know tips on how to do CPR however I believe I did the correct factor. Eric Dier was unbelievable and it was the correct motion to cease the sport by the referee. Within the dressing room, all I might take into consideration was the person.

'I didn't know him, it was completely different to the scenario with Christian Eriksen as a result of we knew him personally, however I used to be unhappy for him.

'They came to tell us he was doing OK and my mind relaxed a bit. My team-mates were saying, "come on Regy, focus on the game, the man is stable, he's going to be OK". However I nonetheless had the picture in my thoughts, the man mendacity down and I assumed he was useless. I couldn't neglect. It was one of many worst experiences of my life.'

Mr Smith's son, Paul, mentioned on Wednesday his father was recovering, that he was 'fully alert' and 'walking about', and looking out ahead to watching his beloved Newcastle once more within the close to future.

'Everyone is OK, that's the constructive factor,' says Reguilon, who recovered his composure to provide one his finest shows of the season as Spurs closed out a 3-2 win and moved as much as fifth within the Premier League.

Regardless of shedding at Vitesse Arnhem with what was successfully their second string, Spurs have stabilised with back-to-back wins within the prime flight after three defeats and are settling into a greater rhythm beneath Nuno Espirito Santo as they make the quick journey to West Ham on Sunday.

'The gaffer wants his team to be strong and compact with quick transitions,' says Reguilon.

'If you look at his Wolves team it was similar. They played with five at the back but it was a competitive team, with great technical quality and a strong defensive line. For me, the only way to play is to win matches. Our fans want to watch beautiful football and not only counter-attacking but football can be many things and we are in a moment where we are building something, and we are doing OK.

'We are in the top five and we go step by step because it is a long season.'

Left again Reguilon feels he's maturing as a participant and having fun with his second Premier League season after overcoming a number of the unexpected challenges of his transfer to London.

CARDIAC ARREST - WHAT TO DO

'My first season here was tough,' he says. 'It was difficult to adapt to the Premier League, to another culture, to everything. Covid made travel difficult, my family, my girlfriend and my friends couldn't come to London. I want this in my life and there have been moments when this was unhappy. At Christmas, for instance.

'This year, things are finally open. I can go out again to restaurants, try the different food, visit London, smell the city and see Tower Bridge and the London Eye. To feel the stadium again full with the fans is wonderful.

'My English is completely different. There are lots of Spanish speakers at the club, Eric Dier speaks really good Spanish. But I have to speak with the other English lads because I want to improve.

'I am happy now. In football, as well, I am growing up and this year is different. You can see on the pitch. I am enjoying London and Premier League football. I have good energy to play and enjoy.'

Reguilon joined Spurs in September 2020, signed by Jose Mourinho from Actual Madrid following a profitable season on mortgage at Sevilla, the place he gained the Europa League - and his sights are set on bringing silverware to White Hart Lane.

'I want to win a trophy with Spurs,' says the 24-year-old Spain worldwide. 'That's the target, and to get again into the Champions League or the Europa League.

'To be in the top four or the top six in the Premier League, but win a trophy. The trophy is a reward for the work and a reward for the fans who deserve it as well as the team, especially for Spurs fans because we all know the club has not won trophies in the last few years.

'I know they have been close. The Champions League final and second in the Premier League. Last year, the Carabao Cup final. Sometimes we deserved to win but that's soccer. I hope, this season, we are able to win a trophy. Our followers deserve this.'