Ards defender John McGivern is going through at the very least six months on the sidelines after a coronary heart scare turned his dream debut right into a nightmare.
During the current Toals County Antrim Protect conflict with Queen’s College, the 20-year-old was rushed to hospital by automotive with excessive chest pains after he collapsed on the Clandeboye Park pitch.
McGivern — who spent three nights in hospital — has been informed by medical doctors that he should keep away from strenuous exercise till effectively into the New 12 months.
Reflecting on the terrifying incident, McGivern stated: “It was an enormous evening for me as a result of it was my Ards debut and I used to be eager to make a superb impression.
“However after about 20 minutes, I began to get a speeding sensation in my head. It went away immediately so I simply ignored it and carried on.
“Then, a few minute later, I obtained horrible chest pains. That was adopted by a white flash. I believed I used to be going to move out, so I simply dropped to my knees. I can’t bear in mind the couple of minutes that adopted.”
With no ambulance within the floor, quick-thinking membership officers escorted the Belfast man to hospital through automotive.
McGivern defined: “It was going to be a three-hour look forward to an ambulance, so Stephen Wilton (Ards vice-chair) and Ian Plunkett (Ards steward) raced me to hospital. It was just a little odd as a result of I’d by no means really met both Stephen or Ian earlier than, however they dropped every part to assist me. I owe them massive time. Who is aware of what might need occurred if I’d been ready hours for an ambulance?”
Health fanatic McGivern now faces six months on the sidelines.
He stated: “I didn’t realise it was that severe within the second, I really wished to maintain taking part in. Sam Lewis (Ards physio) needed to persuade me my evening was over.
“I used to be simply gutted as a result of it was my probability to impress the supervisor and it was over after 25 minutes. It was solely later, in hospital, that it sunk in. The medical doctors haven’t absolutely established what the issue is. They’ve ran loads of exams on my coronary heart.
“The physician has informed me that I’m to not do any strenuous exercise for six months as precaution. That’s gutting, I’m an lively one that enjoys preserving match.”
Whereas the lay-off is devastating information, the younger centre-back has retained his sense of humour.
He quipped: “The excellent news is I’m now the quickest participant within the Irish League. My GPS says that at one level in opposition to Queen’s, I used to be operating at 90 miles per hour.”