‘Lucky’ day for Ealing forward Fenlon

A FRIENDLY rugby match on October 8 nearly turned to tragedy when, early in the second half of the match between Ealing Evergreens and UCS Old Boys, forward John Fenlon collapsed.

As he lay with no pulse and not breathing, his teammate and Ealing scrum-half Justin Green began CPR and chest compressions while paramedics were called.

Luckily, Green is not only a doctor but had just been on a CPR refresher course. Even more luckily, Ealing Trailfinders – the ground at which the match took place – has a defibrillator.

UCS’ Sid Young ran and got the club’s defibrillator and within two minutes of Justin’s CPR, Young put his training – and the defibrillator – into action.

Just minutes later, Fenlon’s pulse returned, he began breathing again and was placed in recovery position while awaiting the ambulance.

Fenlon said: “I don’t think it’s resonated yet – I haven’t digested the gravity of what happened.

“I’m exceptionally lucky. Had it not have been for the defibrillator at Trailfinders and the personnel trained in using it, my journey would have ended that Friday. I believe that every rugby club and indeed every player should have access to the kit. It saves lives.

“I want to say thank you to the Richmond Heavies Foundation for the tireless work they are doing for the rugby community by bringing defibrillators into every rugby club in the country. It’s vital, necessary work.”

The Richmond Heavies Foundation (RHF) is a rugby charity linked to the Championship club and set up the RHF Defibrillator Fund with one clear vision: to put a working defibrillator in every rugby club in the land, with people trained to use it.

The RHF Defibrillator Fund has already distributed 20 defibrillators and another 40 will be installed and personnel trained to use them.