--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-10-23T11:48:04.158Z last_updated: 2026-10-23T05:00:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/stoke-city/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3Rva2VzZW50aW5lbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL3N0b2tlLW9uLXRyZW50LW5ld3MvZmFtaWx5LXRoYW5rLXN0b2tlLWNpdHktYWZ0ZXItMTEyMDk5ODI --- # Stoke City fan, 80, suffers 'cardiac arrest' in life-or-death ordeal - **Source:** - **Published:** 23 Oct - **Club:** Stoke City - **Original URL:** https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/family-thank-stoke-city-after-11209982 Trevor - who moved to Cambridge 45 years ago - had been visiting family in Blythe Bridge. But things took a dramatic turn after the grandfather-of-two went to watch the match alongside his nephew. Wife Marilynn Lawton told The Sentinel: “After the match, Trevor started to feel unwell on his way out of the bet365 Stadium. Then he suddenly collapsed. He had suffered a cardiac arrest. My nephew quickly ran to get help. The club’s medical team and crowd doctor came out to do CPR. Then Trevor was rushed to the Royal Stoke’s Critical Care Unit. “The police were lovely. An officer named Jo called me to ask for Trevor’s details. I told her I didn’t know how to get to the Royal Stoke, so she came to Blythe Bridge to pick me up. Then she blue-lighted me to the hospital so I could see Trevor.” Trevor’s daughter, Emma Sector, was ‘shocked’ by the horrifying news. Emma explained: “Mummy called me to tell me what had happened. I drove up to Stoke from Hertfordshire as quick as I could. It was a massive shock because we were unaware that Daddy had any cardiac issues. He has not had any medical problems before and he doesn’t take any medication. He is very fit and active for his age.” Thankfully, Trevor is now recovering in the Royal Stoke University Hospital’s Cardiology Department. Emma continued: “It is such a relief that Daddy is on the road to recovery. Of course, he still has a long way to go. The CPR left him with a few broken ribs and a broken sternum. He is in a lot of pain. Then we still need to find out what caused his cardiac arrest. So he will be in hospital for a few more weeks. “But Daddy is doing really well and we’re so glad he is still with us. He has been having calls, messages and voice notes from his grandchildren which I believe are helping to speed along his recovery. He adores his grandchildren. He is always playing football in the garden with my son, William. And he loves following Grace’s ballerina and all her achievements.” Now the grateful family are urging others to be prepared. Marilynn added: “The message we really want to send is the importance of CPR. Knowing how to spot the signs that someone is in trouble and how to get help. Being educated on these things can help to save lives. “We’re so grateful people acted quickly and that everything happened the way it did. Trevor was in the right place to get amazing help really, really quickly. Those first few minutes are so important. I dread to think how easily things could have gone the other way. “We just want to thank the supporters for their quick thinking and the club for all its support. They have been amazing. Everyone at Stoke City, the police and the hospital have been wonderful. We’re so grateful they saved his life.” Stoke City FC say they are ‘delighted’ that Trevor is now recovering. A club spokesperson said: “With the permission of Trevor’s family, we are able to share that the lifelong Potter is progressing positively in hospital after he suffered a cardiac arrest at the bet365 Stadium. “Trevor began to feel unwell and collapsed when leaving the ground on Stanley Matthews Way, prior to receiving lifesaving treatment from the Club’s contracted medical support providers and the crowd doctor. “CPR was administered, including the use of one of the many on-site defibrillators, and the quick actions of those around him ensured Trevor was, while still in a critical condition, given the best chance of survival as he travelled to hospital via ambulance. “He has, in the past week, made remarkable progress and is now communicating with his wife, Marilynn, and daughter, Emma, and has since been visited by some of the staff who saved his life a week ago. “While Trevor still has a significant journey of recovery ahead of him, the fact his family still have their husband, father, grandfather and uncle with them provides great joy and relief to all at Stoke City, especially those who acted so quickly to resuscitate him on Tuesday night.” Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings. Get daily headlines and breaking news emailed to you - it’s FREE