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Richie Wellens reflects and pays respect to family of Leyton Orient fan who died

Richie Wellens reflects and pays respect to the family and friends of the Leyton Orient fan who died at the abandoned match in midweek.

It’s been revealed that the O’s boss tried to direct help to former stadium announcement operator Derek Reynolds, 74, after becoming unwell at the game against Lincoln City, which was later abandoned on 82 minutes before he passed away.

A video was posted onto social media with Wellens talking with fans on the pitch in a sit-in protest attempting to stop the match from restarting.

Play was initially allowed to resume by referee Stephen Martin, however, a group of fans made their way onto the playing surface, sitting down near to the keeper’s area to enforce a stoppage.

As per the Daily Mail, and Wellens, in a bid to get help over to Derek, the O’s boss sent the fourth official across the pitch to deal with the incident while offering to speak with his team’s protesting fans.

He went over to the supporters, with stewards also on the pitch trying to move the protestors off.

When asked about his feelings, Richie Wellens said: “Well my own personal feelings is still one of shock of real, you know, just really gutted for what unfolded.

“It was a horrific night for the football club and obviously Derek and his family, and it’s just one that we never want to see on a football pitch ever again.

“But again, my condolences go out to all of his family and friends and just thank everybody that tried the very, very best.

“As soon as we found out, as soon as we seen that there was an incident and the supporters are waving their hands, my initial reaction, along with Mark Kennedy as well, who I thought was fantastic, was to say to the fourth official, there’s potentially a problem over the far side.

“And then we indicated to Keats and our medical staff and to Lincoln’s medical staff to get around there as quick as possible, as I now understand that the paramedics were there very quickly, but Keats and our medical staff and their medical staff was there to give extra help.

“So I thank them, I thank all the supporters that came onto the pitch to try and make it aware as quick as possible.

“And then I also thank the supporters for leaving the when asked.

“I thought they conduct themselves in a fantastic manner and it’s just one of real sobering experience and one that hope that myself, the staff and the players and our supporters never have to go through that again.”

Richie Wellens said more to The Athletic: “We’re on the opposite side of the pitch, and the referee is ready to do a drop ball to restart the game while there’s a fan having CPR, struggling for his life. It’s a sickening feeling.

“I felt sorry for the referee and the fourth official because the rule is to play on but you have to stop the game and make sure the fan is OK.

“It was a horrific night and a horrific moment. The rules are not common sense. The protocol has to be to get help as soon as possible to that area and unfortunately, it’s not.”

Wellens and Lincoln manager Mark Kennedy became aware of an incident in the stands when Orient fans raised the alarm, with supporters starting to wave their arms and saying something’s wrong, myself and Mark were saying, ‘Stop the game’,” said Wellens.

“The fourth official (Carl Brook) was saying, ‘We can’t stop the game, we have to continue’.

“A fan then ran on the pitch, the game then briefly restarted, then supporters started running on the pitch and sat down at the far end. That takes the attention away from what is the most important thing — trying to get help.

“When our supporters came on the pitch, the fourth official was worried about a safety issue. I said, ‘Leave that to me, I’ll get them off the pitch. Concentrate on the referee and trying to get help to our supporter’.

“I went over to our supporters, they were very good and got off the pitch but then, unbelievably, they tried to restart the game.”

On 84 minutes the game was paused for around an hour, with the decision to abandon made at around 10.25pm.

Before the fan got CPR attention from medics, referee Martin called players off the pitch before the near hour-long wait for an official suspension of the game.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Leyton Orient Football Club is devastated to confirm that supporter Derek Reynolds has passed away.

Derek, 74, became unwell at Brisbane Road during Tuesday evening’s league fixture against Lincoln City.

Despite the best efforts of Derek’s fellow supporters and medical professionals from the club’s on-site paramedics and doctors, Lincoln City and the London Ambulance Service, he sadly lost his life.

Derek was a life-long O’s supporter and he lived in Osbourne Road, a short walk from the ground for many years. As well as being a lifelong fan, Derek was heavily involved in the club and managed the club’s tannoy system during the 1990s.

The club will be paying tribute to Derek at Saturday’s home fixture against Reading and his family have been invited to the game as guests of the club.

A book of condolence will be available for supporters in the East Stand to sign on Saturday and it will then be available for all fans in West Stand reception thereafter.

We would, once again, like to thank Derek’s fellow supporters for the way in which they conducted themselves on Tuesday night and acted to try and help the situation.

If you were in attendance at Brisbane Road on Tuesday evening and were affected by the events, you can contact the helpline at MIND for support on 0300 123 3393.

The club will be commemorating the life of supporter Derek Reynolds when Leyton Orient take on Reading in Sky Bet League One at Brisbane Road on Saturday.

Derek, a life-long O’s fan, fell ill during Tuesday’s home fixture against Lincoln City and he sadly passed away later that evening.

Members of Derek’s family will be in attendance as guests of the club on Saturday and they will lead the teams out of the tunnel shortly before 3pm.

Derek’s family have invited all supporters, as well as both sets of players and staff, to then partake in a period of applause shortly before kick-off to celebrate his life.

Book of condolence

From 1.30pm, supporters can sign a book of condolence on the East side of the stadium on Brisbane Road. The book will be available in the old Ticket Office, which is located next to Gate 2. After kick-off, the book will be moved to main reception for fans to sign at a later date.

Fans who are unable to attend matches at Brisbane Road can email their messages of condolence to media@leytonorient.com. These messages will be collated by the club and passed on to the Reynolds family.

The club would like to thank all O’s supporters, and the wider football community, for the warmth and love they have shown the Reynolds family since Tuesday’s very sad events.

FIRST AID HELP AND ADVICE FROM THE NHS

If someone is unconscious and not breathing normally, call 999 and start CPR straight away.

When you call 999 for an ambulance, you should be given basic life-saving instructions over the phone, including advice about CPR.

CPR on adults

If you have been trained in CPR, including rescue breaths, and feel confident using your skills, you should give chest compressions with rescue breaths.

If you’re not completely confident, attempt hands-only CPR instead.

Hands-only CPR

To carry out a chest compression:

Kneel next to the person and place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of their chest. Place the palm of your other hand on top of the hand that’s on their chest and interlock your fingers.

Position yourself so your shoulders are directly above your hands.

Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down by 5 to 6cm (2 to 2.5 inches) on their chest.

Keeping your hands on their chest, release the compression and allow their chest to return to its original position.

Repeat these compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 times a minute until an ambulance arrives or for as long as you can.

CPR with rescue breaths

Place the heel of your hand on the centre of the person’s chest, then place the palm of your other hand on top and press down by 5 to 6cm (2 to 2.5 inches) at a steady rate of 100 to 120 compressions a minute.

After every 30 chest compressions, give 2 rescue breaths.

Tilt the person’s head gently and lift the chin up with 2 fingers. Pinch the person’s nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth for about 1 second. Check that their chest rises. Give 2 rescue breaths.

Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.

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