TRIBUTES have poured in for the St John Ambulance crew which saved the life of a football fan whose heart stopped twice when he collapsed at the end of Kidderminster Harriers' match on Saturday.

Torquay United fan Michael Lowther, 48, of Paignton, collapsed near the dug-out at the end of the Aggborough clash between Harriers and Torquay, which Kiddermin-ster won 1-0.

However, quick-thinking Kidderminster St John members Judy Wells and Fred Jennings saw the drama unfolding and called for the life-saving heart defibrillator resuscitation machine.

Mr Lowther, who had his sons Gareth and Rhys at his side when he suffered a massive heart attack, was then treated by Harriers club doctor Kevin O'Connor and St John divisional officer Graham Saunders.

Mr Lowther's heart restarted and his breathing recommenced and, once stable although still unconscious, he was handed over to a county ambulance crew which took him to Worcester's Ronkswood Hospital, where he is now stable in the coronary care unit.

Torquay manager Roy McFarland and chairman Mike Bateson raced from the side's changing room on hearing of the drama, and along with players, comforted Mr Lowther's sons.

Mr McFarland said: "We all get bound up with people doing special things in football, but this St John crew were the absolute heroes. I saw them working and, believe me, they were fantastic."

Mr Bateson said: "We were upset at losing the match in the circumstances we did, but what happened afterwards quickly put everything into perspective. We cannot speak too highly of the St John Ambulance team."

Worcestershire county staff officer and paramedic Mark Woodward, of Kidderminster, hailed the crew and said the incident highlighted the need for defibrillators at all major sporting venues.