A RUGBY club first aider helped save the life of a young boy whose heart stopped beating at a rugby match.

The boy named as Freddie was airlifted to hospital from Abergavenny RFC’s Bailey Park ground on Sunday morning, October 4, after receiving life-saving CPR on the touchline.

A Chepstow RFC first aider stepped in to help a doctor who had started CPR using a nearby defibrillator.

A Chepstow RFC spokeswoman said: “The thoughts of everyone at Chepstow RFC are with Freddie’s family and team-mates and we hope he makes a swift recovery.

“Like everyone in the rugby family, we are proud of everyone’s efforts to help Freddie, both by the volunteers, including one of our own club’s first aiders, and the emergency services.

“It is also humbling to see the best wishes come in from across the country from players, teams and supporters alike.

“This incident really emphasises the importance of having trained and competent first aiders throughout the sport and having defibrillators readily available.

“You never know when those life-saving skills and equipment could be needed.”

Abergavenny RFC praised and thanked the ‘amazing’ support from local clubs in the rugby family.

In a social media post, Freddie’s mum said: “We will never, ever be able to put into words how grateful we are for the actions of those people today.

“We don’t yet know what caused him to stop breathing, or what his road to recovery will look like.

“But one thing I do know is that without the people on that pitch today, Freddie may still not be here with us.

“I want to thank those who performed CPR and did everything they could to keep Freddie alive before the ambulance crew arrived. We will never, ever be able to put into words how grateful we are for the actions of those people today.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”