Published on: 28 May 2025
A nurse and football coach who helped revive another Sunderland fan at Wembley Stadium after he suffered a double cardiac arrest has called on others to learn CPR skills in the hope it will save more lives.
Brian Soulsby was in the top tier of the South Stand at Saturday’s Championship play-off against Sheffield United when he spotted others in distress just as the crowd celebrated Sunderland AFC’s first goal.
A young man, aged in his early 20s, had collapsed, with Brian leading the efforts to save him after he had a cardiac arrest twice. The man was admitted to hospital and is continuing to recover.
While reluctant to be in the limelight and with the agreement of the man’s family, he has shared his experience to encourage others to learn resuscitation skills.
Brian works as a Nurse Practitioner for the Recovery at Home team. It is a community service run by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust which cares for people out of hospital and get well in their own surroundings.
Brian Soulsby with his son Ben, 10, at Wembley Stadium.
As part of his role, which is based at Leechmere in Sunderland and the Trust’s Clarendon building in Hebburn, he is taught Basic Life Saving (BLS) and Immediate Life Support (ILS) skills.
In addition to his NHS training, Brian is first aid trained as part of his role as a coach for the Under 10s and Under 7s sides for Wearside FC.
He was sitting on his own, with other family members including his eldest son Ben,10, elsewhere in the stadium when the incident unfolded eight rows back from his seat.
When Brian could not find a pulse, he and another supporter began chest compressions, reviving the man once before he suffered another cardiac arrest. A defibrillator delivered by a medic helped bring him back again.
The match had begun at 3.01pm to highlight the fact that 'Every Minute Matters’, a collaboration between Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation.
This campaign aims to inspire supporters to learn CPR, teaching them vital skills that could save someone's life – as Brian proved.
Brian Soulsby, left pictured from left to right with brother-in-law Stewart Collinson, brother Dave, Dave's son Alfie, Brian's son Ben, brother Gary and Gary's daughter Emily.
Brian, who is also dad to Jack, seven, said:
"I can’t stress enough how important it is to be up to date with CPR training.
"If anyone has the chance to attend training, then they should do. It could be the difference between a positive outcome by responding quickly. Nobody knows when these skills could be needed, as Saturday’s scenario demonstrates.
"I’ve never preformed CPR in my clinical practice in over 20 years. That is why I feel it is vital to have the great BLS and ILS training that the Trust provides.
"This training has prepared me in having the knowledge, skills and confidence to perform CPR without hesitating. This is where credit needs to be given to the Trust’s life support trainers.
"I’ve had lots of messages from family, friends and colleagues since Saturday. However, the messages that have touched me the most are the ones I received from the lad I helped from hospital, as well as his dad and brother.
"To be thanked by people in the ground at full time by those that witnessed it was also very emotional for me."
Brian added that since the incident, the Red Sky Foundation has offered training to his club’s coaches and children, as well as a portable defibrillator to use pitch-side, with thanks sent to the charity for its support.
Dr Shaz Wahid is the Trust’s Executive Medical Director and oversees its Resuscitation Service.
He said:
"Brian has proved that learning how to do CPR can make the difference in someone’s survival. I commend him for his quick actions and for stepping forward in that time of need. We also send our get well wishes to the young man he helped.
"All our clinical staff receive CPR training and we also offer a course to our staff who do not work directly with patients as part of the annual Restart a Heart campaign.
"People who have out of hospital cardiac arrests stand a much better chance of being saved if someone around them knows what to do.
"It doesn’t take long to learn, but will give you the knowledge you need and the confidence which could prove lifesaving."
This year’s Restart a Heart day will be in October.
More details, including training via the ReviR tool, can be found through this BHF page: Restart a Heart Day
Information about the Cardiology services provided by the Trust are available here: Cardiology
Details of the Trust’s Recovery at Home service can be found here: Recovery at Home
