EMERGENCY services have praised the efforts of three first-aiders at a Sunday league football match for saving the life of a goalkeeper.

The drama began about three minutes into the fixture between Vigo Village and Spring Vale at the Vigo RFC ground in Harvel Road, Vigo, near Gravesend. Vigo goalkeeper Andy Rolfe, 25, collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.

First-aiders for the North Kent Sunday League, Gary Baring, 50, from Istead Rise, John Wills, 40, from Greenhithe and Steve Martin, 55, from Northfleet, rushed to his aid.

During a 20-minute resuscitation ordeal Paul was brought back three times before paramedics arrived and took over.

Paul was taken by air ambulance to Maidstone Hospital where his condition was said to be critical but stable.

A Kent Air Ambulance spokesman said: "It was a fantastic team approach. The people who attended first need to be lauded for their work."

* FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S GRAVESEND MESSENGER.