A teenage footballer has miraculously been brought back to life after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch.

Ashford United under-16s midfielder Galbu Sherpa, 15, collapsed in the opening minutes of an East Kent Youth League Cup game.

Players and officials realised something was wrong when the John Wallis Academy pupil, of Watermead Close, South Ashford, tried to stand up - but fell back down.

Referee Wesley Brown, along with team coach Graham Brooks, ran to his aid and started administering CPR during the match against Dover at The Ridge, also known as the Spearpoint, at Kennington, at 1.30pm on Sunday.

Galbu had gone into cardiac arrest and had stopped breathing.

Youth club chairman Richard Wallbridge said: "Galbu Sherpa collapsed during the opening minutes of the game for no apparent reason. As he tried to get up he fell back to the ground and it was clear that something was seriously wrong.

"The referee and assistant coach, Wesley Brown, immediately identified that Galbu had stopped breathing and gave CPR. Wesley was joined by Graham Brooks and between the two men they took turns on providing CPR."

"we had two blokes who had done a first aid course and they saved his life..." – ian drysdale

The match was abandoned and six minutes later an ambulance arrived, guided to the pitch by players from both teams.

Paramedics gave Galbu two shocks with a defibrillator and he was successfully resuscitated before being rushed to the William Harvey Hospital.

He was later transferred to St Thomas's Hospital in London, which has a specialist cardiology unit.

Family friend Gomba Sherpa said: "Galbu is okay and he's recovering well.

"The doctor will see him on Wednesday afternoon and if he's okay, they will discharge him on Thursday."

Youth club vice-chairman Ian Drysdale compared it to the incident in which Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed and "died" on the pitch in the FA Cup match against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in March.

He said a number of factors had worked in their favour to ensure Galbu survived.

'Heart rate monitor feels like bomb's going to go off'

"If you take the Muamba situation at White Hart Lane," Mr Drysdale said. "They had a doctor, paramedics and a defibrillator at the ground. We had two blokes who had done a first aid course and they saved his life.

"There was a coming together of a number of things that all went our way; the ambulance was very quick, the car park – which is sometimes a nightmare – was quite clear so the ambulance was able to get straight onto the pitch.

"Everyone was just fantastic. I'm just so pleased we had the right people in the right place at the right time. It could have been so tragic and different but everything has combined to give this lad a chance."

Galbu Sherpa collapsed during a match on The Ridge football pitches

South East Coast Ambulance Service praised both the coaches and the players for their actions in helping to save Galbu's life.

Spokesman Rich Airey said: "Our thoughts are with the teenager and his family and we wish him a full recovery. SECAmb would like to thank everyone involved in providing CPR and life-saving treatment on the day.

"Their quick-thinking and actions without question helped save this teenager's life. We'd also like to thank the other players for their actions which ensured our clinicians were directed quickly to the scene of the emergency to continue the successful resuscitation."