A match official whose life was saved with a defibrillator after collapsing twice during a game is continuing to receive treatment in hospital. Martin Weedon, 73, was one of the assistant referees at Northamptonshire club Desborough Town's South Midlands League Division One Cup semi-final against Belstone, from Hertfordshire. "If Desborough hadn't had a defibrillator, Martin would have died 100%. Other members of the family were attending a 60th birthday party in High Wycombe and were unaware of what had happened until Mr Hobbs was phoned by Desborough manager Neil Healey. "He called me to say Martin had collapsed and had stopped breathing and they were going to use a defibrillator on him," Mr Hobbs said.

Source: BBC March 16, 2026 20:24 UTC