Life-saving footballers rewarded

Two footballers who saved a referee when he had a heart attack on the pitch have been nominated for an award.

Archie Lewis, 36, and Jimmy Lovell, 29, both from Bristol, were playing for Talbot Knowle against Lawrence Rovers when Peter Stephen collapsed.

The pair gave the 51-year-old mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage before paramedics arrived.

Now the Bristol and District League says it will put them forward for a Royal Humane Society award.

Mr Lewis and Mr Lovell were given donations to buy equipment for themselves or their clubs at a special meeting of the league at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday.

Vernon Windell, general secretary of the Bristol and District League and Premier Combination, said: "It was an opportunity for us to put our hands together and give these two men a big ovation.

"That day 25 people froze, while two people jumped up and did something. Peter Stephen is still recovering but he is better than he was."

Mr Stephen, of Winterbourne, Bristol, collapsed during the match on 10 January.