George Baldock made a life-saving gesture to young fan with heart condition

George Baldock made a life-saving gesture to a young fan with a heart condition, with the kid’s mum speaking about it on the radio.

Marie Purdy reveals to BBC Sheffield that her son Harvey Smith was diagnosed with a faulty heart valve when he was age 7.

But George Baldock used his own money to buy him a defibrillator so he could feel safe and confident to keep playing football.

Sheffield United fan Marie Purdy’s son Harvey Smith was diagnosed with a faulty heart valve when he was seven

George Baldock used his own money to buy him a defibrillator so he could feel safe & confident to keep playing football

❤️ What a story this is #SUFC | @BBCSheffield pic.twitter.com/o3FvxC6lOm

— Football Heaven (@footballheaven) October 10, 2024

She said: “End of 2016, beginning of 2017, my son had been suffering from a stomach ache, and it had gone on for a long time. So we made a routine visit to children’s hospital, and basically, they found he got a heart murmur.

“And on further investigation, they said he’d got a narrow of the heart valve, orchard stenosis, basically, that came out, which was complete shock. He’d have no symptoms of breathlessness, headaches, which is normally associated with this condition. He’d been very active, playing football, basketball, kickboxing. Didn’t know, you know, it was complete shock.

“We were told he was going to need heart surgery, and he wasn’t to do any sports till they’d further investigated and that he had the operation in October. They did like, I remember the name for it, but it was basically like a balloon procedure, where they widened the valve so blood could flow to the heart. And in future, he’d need. Well, he will need heart surgery, where they replace the valve.

“So, as anxious parents and being completely in shock, you know, it rocked us and everything. And first thing he said was, can I still play football? Because, like, every boy who wants to grow up and be like, he’s the real player for his club in England and all that, we wanted to do some fundraising to get a defib for peace of mind.

“And we just started it, basically writing to club, seeing if there’s anything we could get, like signed shirts and that, so we could raffle them off and make some money for defib. And then along came Covid, so it stopped us in his tracks, and we forgot about it.

“And then out at blue, we got an email from David at Sheffield United. Well, basically, every Christmas, I’m sure a lot of clubs do it, but they like, do visit hospitals and do things for charity and stuff like that.

“And obviously, they’ve been stopped by this with Covid and we got this email from Dave McCarthy saying they’d like to help and that could Harvey come to the club. Obviously, they’d have to wear face masks and social distancing and everything.

“So my partner took my son and his stepbrother to Bramall Lane, and I got this day because I’m the big United fan. I couldn’t make it that day. Later that day, my partner came back with my son. Absolutely gobsmacked.

“Basically, they’d gone on pitch, they’d have a little tour around where they could be with restrictions. And from behind some seats came Sander Berge and George Baldock, and they’re asking Harvey a bit about, you know, our pulley and if you were all right and everything. And basically George said, this has got nothing to do with the club, but I want to buy you a defib, I want to help. So this was coming out of George’s own money. He didn’t want any recognition for it, he didn’t want any publicity. This wasn’t to do with the club, but he wanted to help.

“It’s helped us to find the defib and everything and they get it sorted and stuff. So through the club sorted it and that, but it was off George’s own back and it was a gift to Harvey so that he could continue to play football and give us peace of mind. Because as a parent and we would see it when playing football now and then we kept it a secret. We didn’t give any publicity or anything.

“And then the World cup came and, you know, Eriksen, he had that heart problem on pitch where a defib was needed. And we said that’s it now we need to publicise getting defibs out and everything because It’s really important to me. It just gives you peace of mind. And just having that defib on outside can save somebody’s life.

“So we shared the story, but we didn’t over share it because I felt like we were betraying George by telling people, because he didn’t want people to know. So I felt a bit, oh, I don’t know if I want to share this story.

“But we did. And, you know, some fans found out and they were saying, brilliant, George. We already knew he was a star anyway, but doing something like that just showed what kind of person he is.

“And then, you know, to hear this now, whenever we saw George, you’d always ask, how are they wearing everything and that? Last time we saw him was earlier this year before we left the club, which we were gutted about.

“We knew we were leaving but he’d not announced it yet and everything.

“And he asked how Harvey was and everything and we said, oh, his team just been promoted. And Harvey scored the winning penalty. And we showed him videos on my phone of Harvey taking this winning penalty and all his teammates running towards him in that. And they were overwhelmed, he was so happy. I said, well, that’s because of you. I says, he probably wouldn’t have stuck to it because it made him anxious playing football.

“Says that because he got that deep and we’ve got that peace of mind and everything, it allowed him to do what he enjoyed doing. And last thing he says he couldn’t believe how tall Harvey was because he’s taller than me now. And honestly, he’s such a nice person. It’s just heartbreaking that we’ve lost him.”

Here’s how listeners reacted after hearing that George Baldock made a life-saving gesture to a young fan with a heart condition…

@DarthSteelios: Told loadsa people this story today @Marie_LadyBlade after seeing your tweet. It’s things like this that sets people apart. Truly have lost one of the great ones! ❤️❤️

@Ste15375723Mark: This tells you something about the man. Not just a gifted footballer 🙏⚔️

@Markmoorhouse2: Bless him its always the best ones who God takes first 🙏🙏🙏 RIP George 🙏🙏

@forever_swfc: Rivalry aside the more I hear about what type of bloke baldock was he sounded like one of the good guys 💙 rip George

@robchocs: It’s instilled in you from an early age, as a football fan, to hate your rival’s players. If I said anything in the heat of the game, I take it back. He seemed like a top man. 💔

@AndyJGard: Lovely story and gift from George, heartbreaking 💔 they say the good ones go early..

@SteelCityBlades: Brought me to tears this

@andymcelwaine: That’s quality. What a fella.

@barnesy1889: What a guy 😢

@Zippy_upnorth: Sounds like he was a very decent man as well as a quality footballer. Absolutely tragic

@The_Running_Flo: What a lovely story. The fact he didn’t even want recognition either

@JackWalters92: What a great story. Just shows what a bloke he was. I’m glad Marie and her family have been able to share what he did. Hope one day his little one grows up to see how their dad impacted so many people in such a positive way.

@JAMES2430911: @Marie_LadyBlade Be proud girl, be very proud. When I saw you and Harv at Norwich I got an instant good vibe. So did George. ♥️

@SounessLouis: If the man up in the sky exists why does he cut the life short of a genuine hero and good person.

@AdamBennett20: As an owl this is amazing! What a man, just wish mors people in the privileged position they are in follow suit!! What is relatively peanuts to them changes people’s lives! Well done George! RIP #Sheffieldfamily