Hero sound man saved Hoddle with kiss of life after TV heart attack
A QUICK-THINKING sound engineer saved the life of England football great Glenn Hoddle after he collapsed from a heart attack in a TV studio.
Hoddle is in a serious condition in hospital but ‘responding well’ to treatment after being taken seriously ill at the BT Sport studios on Saturday – his 61st birthday.
Yesterday studio engineer Simon Daniels was revealed to have given blue-faced Hoddle the kiss of life, performed CPR as well as using a defibrillator on his chest, using police training he learned as a volunteer special constable.
Mr Daniels, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, modestly tweeted afterwards: ‘ Just did what was necessary to give him a fighting chance. Thoughts are with his family. It was my training as a special constable that paid off.’
Just minutes earlier, Hoddle was smiling while showing off his ball skills on Saturday Morning Savage with presenter Robbie Savage.
He was also presented with a birthday cake before the incident, which was so sudden that witnesses thought he had died.
Former Tottenham and Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, who was playing football in the studio with Hoddle, told the Mail on Sunday: ‘He was fine one second and then the next second he was on the floor.
‘I don’t know what caused it but it was obviously very serious right away. One guy from BT Sport was fantastic – he was first aid-trained and he was excellent.’
Another witness told The Sun on Sunday: ‘He was dead in their arms. We thought Glenn had died in the studio there and then. It was so shocking and chilling. For a split-second people thought it was some kind of joke then witnesses froze in panic as reality gripped and we feared he had gone.
‘A studio worker leapt in to bravely try and pull Glenn back from the brink of death.
‘This was all moments from happening on air with cameras still rolling. It couldn’t have been more serious.’
Presenter Savage, a former Wales international, tweeted: ‘Worst experience of my life, thoughts and prayers with Glenn and his family, so proud of our BT Sport team today, all heroes especially Simon.’
Speaking at their home, Mr Daniels’ wife Joanne confirmed her husband had performed CPR ‘for quite a long time’, as well as briefing an ambulance crew on Hoddle’s condition.
Despite the drama, Mr Daniels did not take a day off yesterday – instead attending a police training course.
Hoddle won 53 caps for England as a cultured midfield player, and is regarded as a club legend at Tottenham Hotspur and AS Monaco.
As a manager he took England to the 1998 World Cup finals in France, qualifying on the back of a memorable 0-0 draw away to Italy.
He lost the job the following year after infamous remarks on reincarnation and disability in a newspaper interview.
Hoddle married his childhood sweetheart Christine Ann Stirling, a teacher, in 1979 – the year he won his first cap for England.
They had three children – Zoe Ann, 35, Zara Marie, 32, and son Jamie Glenn, 26 – before divorcing in 1998. He married Vanessa Colbourn in 2000 but they split in 2015. A Game: Hoddle juggles ball and gets birthday cake on TV from Savage, above, just minutes before collapse statement from Hoddle’s family said: ‘The family are grateful to everyone in the football family – and beyond – that have sent kind messages of support.
‘Glenn and his family would like to publicly thank the BT Sport staff that treated him immediately on set following his collapse. Glenn is now in the care of the NHS, who have also been exemplary in helping him and the family.’
England manager Gareth Southgate, who played under Hoddle for the national team, said: ‘Everybody across the game is right behind one of English football’s greats and willing him to pull through.’
Michael Owen, who scored a famous World Cup goal for England under Hoddle against Argentina in 1998, said: ‘Just hoping he is OK. Great manager and a great man.’