FORMER footballer Fabrice Muamba - and a doctor who helped save his life when he collapsed - have this morning visited a York school.

Some 1000 students at Fulford School joined 10,800 other students across Yorkshire today to be trained in life saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills.

There was a ripple of excitement  at the school when the former footballer arrived and went on to talk to students, alongside lifesaving cardiologist Dr Andrew Deaner, and to watch their training.

Fabrice told students he hadn't played football, apart from in the garden with his children, since collapsing on the pitch after suffering cardiac arrest in 2012. 
He said: "Andrew and the medical staff advised me not to play - I'm okay watching from the stands."

The mass training event,  which saw students taught heart compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing on dummies - was organised by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust with the British Heart Foundation and the Resuscitation Council.

Dr Deaner said patients who are given by-stander CPR immediately after suffering cardiac arrest have a much better chance of survival.

Dr Deaner was watching the FA Cup tie between Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton Wanderers when Fabrice fell to the ground and he realised people were doing CPR.

The consultant cardiologist knew he could help the team of medics and an older steward let him on to the pitch and within six minutes the footballer was in an ambulance heading for the London Chest Hospital (LCH) - where Dr Deaner works - where a medical team was ready and waiting.

Fabrice was effectively dead for 48 minutes until his heart was able to start beating normally again through shocks and drugs. 

Against all expectations, Fabrice regained consciousness 36 hours after arriving at the hospital.
Dan Bodey, deputy headteacher who organised the Fulford School event, said: "We have had some children in since learning CPR since 6.45am today.

"If it saves one life it makes everything worthwhile."   

Other schools to take part included Sherburn High School, Sherburn in Elmet, Queen Ethelburga's College near Harrogate, and Lady Lumley’s School, Pickering.

Over 30,000 people suffer cardiac arrests outside of hospital in the UK every year.