Chesterfield say fan airlifted to hospital is responding well to treatment

Posted Sunday, March 11, 2018 by PA

A fan who was airlifted to hospital during Chesterfield’s 3-1 defeat to Lincoln is responding well to treatment, the Spireites have said.

The League Two game was paused in the 26th minute while an air ambulance landed on the pitch after a supporter required medical treatment in the East Stand of the Proact Stadium.

A club spokesman told Chesterfield’s website: “A supporter was taken ill and emergency treatment was administered by St John Ambulance and East Midlands Ambulance Service personnel, with the crowd doctor also in attendance.

Air ambulance landing on the pitch here at the Proact.
We will keep you up to date with what’s happening. pic.twitter.com/1shdrnvFh5
— Chesterfield FC (@ChesterfieldFC) March 10, 2018

“The decision was then taken to stop the match to allow an air ambulance to land on the pitch. The person was taken away by helicopter to a hospital in Derby, where he has responded well to treatment.

“We would like to place on record our thanks to the staff from St John Ambulance, East Midlands Ambulance Service and the the air ambulance, together with the crowd doctor and matchday stewards, for their efforts.

“We send our very best wishes to the patient and hope that he makes a full recovery.”

After a delay of half-an-hour, Alex Whitmore put Chesterfield ahead but Michael Bostwick and Scott Wharton headed Lincoln in front before Ollie Palmer sealed victory.

The thoughts of all at the #EFL are with the @ChesterfieldFC fan airlifted to hospital today.
We hope you make a speedy recovery.
— EFL (@EFL) March 10, 2018

Lincoln boss Danny Cowley thought the delay initially helped the hosts, but was pleased with the way his team fought back and secured a victory that moved them into the play-off positions.

Cowley said: “I thought we started the game really well – we had an intent about us – but after the stoppage Chesterfield changed their system and we didn’t come out with the intensity we showed in the first 25 minutes.

“We conceded a poor goal but it was a good response with two set-piece goals and we work so hard on them with the players. We spend a lot of painstaking hours on the training pitch trying to get our set pieces right.

“We’ve had a lot of clear cut chances from them this year but probably not had the goals we wanted although that takes us into double figures from set pieces.”

READ 📖: Supporter Responds Well to Treatment https://t.co/SFTATVK8No
— Chesterfield FC (@ChesterfieldFC) March 10, 2018

Chesterfield manager Jack Lester was left to reflect on his side’s inability to deal with that set-piece threat.

“We got ourselves in front but a couple of poor technical errors put pressure on us in injury time and two set pieces undid us,” he said.

“I don’t think they were going to do us in open play, we had the set up right. We changed to a 4-4-2 to put a little bit more pressure on the ball and if we had got to half-time (ahead) I think we would have done it.

“I thought we started the second half really well and there was good energy about the team and then another set-piece did us. I was disappointed with the reaction after that but up to that point I thought we would go and win the game.”