By Alexia Evripidou
A FOOTBALLER who saved the life of a player from an opposing team during a match, declared on Monday he did not want to be seen as a hero.
During the Anorthosis versus AEL game on Saturday, Anorthosis’ Valentinos Sielis saved the life of AEL’S striker Andrija Kaluđerović, after he collapsed to the floor hitting his head and swallowing his tongue. The fall happened after Kaluđerović and Anorthosis player Paulo Jorge collided whilst going for the oncoming football.
“I do not want people to see me and call me a hero because I saved the life of a fellow man,” Sielis, a Cypriot born defender, told the Cyprus News Agency. “I did what I did and I want to believe that every man in my position would do the same, especially in such cases where every second is precious and critical.”
The 48th minute of the game saw the two men collide as they both went to head the ball, leading to Serbian Kaluđerović cracking his head on the ground and starting to choke on his tongue.
Quick-acting Sielis was the first to realise that his fellow football player was in danger and swiftly put his fingers in Kaluđerović’s mouth to move his tongue and unblock the constricted air passage.
Talking to CNA, Sielis spoke of how it was Kaluđerović’s posture on the floor which made him realise the severity of the trauma.
“I do not really know how I found the courage and approached Kaluđerović to help,” he said, adding that it was only after the medical staff of both teams had finished that he “realised what had really happened and how serious the injury was”.
Insisting that his reactions were instinctive and not heroic, Sielis spoke of the bites he had received as a result of attempting to keep Kaluđerović mouth open to prevent him from swallowing his tongue again.
He said he didn’t know first aid, but added that all players should take some first aid courses before the start of the season.
“It is very important that a player who is near the site of injury is able to rush immediately and help his teammate,” he said.
In recognition of Sielis’ action, the Cyprus Sports Organisation issued a congratulatory statement on Monday, in which it praised the footballer’s selfless reaction and said it would seek “ways to honour him in a special ceremony”.
The statement added that Sielis had already done his fair share of good works by donating bone marrow.
“Fair play is the sacred premise of sport, which Valentinos Sielis has upheld unwaveringly, both by saving his fellow footballer and by helping another fellow human being by donating bone marrow,” the statement said.
