A PUB landlord who saved a friend’s life following a heart attack, hopes young people will be stung into action after watching footballer Christian Eriksen collapse on the pitch at the weekend.

Denmark talisman Eriksen, 29, had to be resuscitated on the field after collapsing shortly before half-time in his side’s opening match of Euro 2020 against Finland in Copenhagen on Saturday. The Inter Milan midfielder was taken to hospital and is now said to be in a “good and stable” condition. The former Tottenham player’s agent, Martin Schoots, revealed on Monday that Eriksen was “making jokes” and “in good form” when he spoke to him on Sunday.

The game was postponed but resumed two hours later after both sets of players agreed to play. The hosts eventually lost 1-0.

Although the distressing incident shocked the football world and team-mates, opponents and fans inside the stadium were clearly upset as medics tended to Eriksen, Simon Mason believes it could serve to educate people – especially young people who might think themselves invincible.

“I think it really brings something like this home when it happens to someone famous,” said Simon, who together with his wife Alison runs the Prince Llewelyn pub in Cilmery, just outside Builth Wells.

“He’s (Eriksen) an elite athlete. He’s only 29, but it shows it could happen to you, whether you’re five or 99.

“Even though it’s a horrible thing to happen, I think one good thing to come out of it is it will make young people more aware. Younger people are more blasé, they think things will never happen to them, but something as big as this at a major tournament, happening to one of the big players who everyone is looking at, it shows it can happen to anyone, of any age, even someone who’s at peak fitness.

“That age group is the one that needs to be targeted. It could be their parents.”

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Simon hit the headlines in 2018 when he saved the life of his friend and neighbour, Richard Barrett, after the then 68-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest. Simon, 50, performed CPR for more than 45 minutes on Mr Barrett after he stopped breathing and lost consciousness at his Cilmery home in April 2018.

Mr Barrett spent two months in hospital but survived. Simon went on to win a prestigious Heart Hero award at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Awards in London in October 2019, being presented with his accolade by TV presenter Vernon Kay after he was nominated for the honour by Richard’s partner, Judith Morgan.

Simon and Alison subsequently hosted a community CPR training evening, with the help of the BHF, at the pub that November to highlight the importance of learning life-saving skills. And he is urging more people in Powys, especially the younger generation, to take up opportunities to learn CPR, as well as knowing how to use a defibrillator – many of which are dotted around various locations in towns and villages around the county.

Powys landlord Simon Mason with his Heart Hero honour at the British Heart Foundation Awards in 2019. Photo: British Heart Foundation

Powys landlord Simon Mason with his Heart Hero honour at the British Heart Foundation Awards in 2019. Photo: British Heart Foundation

“It can be quite scary to take a defibrillator and have to use it, but it’s very easy,” said Simon, who learnt CPR as a sea cadet when he was a teenager and revealed his training kicked in 30 years later when Judith called on him to help Richard.

“It’s like having a paramedic in your hand. It will tell you what you need to do and does it all for you. It talks to you like a doctor, people don’t need to be scared.

“I think if someone gets training and it happens to them they will know what to do. In Powys I think it needs to be taught more and given more attention.

“We have all these village halls and rooms, the British Heart Foundation would support them, they should have an event once a year, even if it’s a refresher course. We would definitely be keen to hold another event.

“There are defibrillators everywhere now but so many people won’t know what to do. But knowing how to use one could be vital here in Powys. Obviously we live in a rural area, there’s so many farms, and people working on their own. People need to have an idea because if they’re faced with a situation like Saturday, all they’ll be able to do is wait on the phone for the ambulance to get there.

“For me it’s invaluable, a skill everyone should learn. Everyone should find the time for it.”

*The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has teamed up with Welsh Hearts to call on grassroots and amateur football clubs in Wales to help save more lives from cardiac arrests by installing lifesaving defibrillators, as well as encourage people to undergo CPR/defibrillator training. You can find out more by visiting https://calonhearts.org/fa-wales.