Rotherham and Birmingham fans shake hands with medics and police after medical emergency

An emotional moment saw Rotherham and Birmingham fans shake hands with medics and police after a medical emergency took place in the stands.

The Championship fixture was delayed for around 30 minutes due to medical emergency in the crowd at the New York Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Play was stopped after eight minutes with the score at 0-0 and the referee, Keith Stroud, then took both sides off the pitch and into the dressing room before they came back out and played the rest of the game. 

Thank you! 👏👏 #rufc pic.twitter.com/LbM5x5D7Hs

— Hancok 🇪🇪 (@San_Pers) April 20, 2024

ROTHEHRAM STATEMENT:

Everyone at Rotherham United would like to place on-record our sincere thanks to the paramedics, medical professionals and both sets of supporters for the professionalism and compassion which was displayed throughout the medical emergency at AESSEAL New York Stadium this afternoon.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the supporter, who was taken to hospital from the stadium after being treated on-site by medical support from St. John’s Ambulance and the respective doctors of both clubs.

In unimaginably difficult circumstances it was incredible to see allegiances on the pitch put aside and the efforts of the medical professionals and support staff receive the commendation that they deserved from everyone inside AESSEAL New York Stadium.

We now ask that the supporter’s privacy is respected during this time.

Rotherham tweeted: “Players from both sides have been taken into the dressing rooms as the medical teams respond to the emergency. Our best wishes to the person involved. ❤

“The supporter has now left the stadium with medical professionals. We would like to thank everyone for their compassion and patience and it goes without saying that all our love and thoughts are with the casualty. We would ask that the supporter’s privacy is respected at this incredibly difficult time.

“The game will restart with the clock at 11 minutes at 3:45pm following a short warm up period for the two teams.

“We cannot put into words our gratitude to the paramedics, medical professionals and both sets of supporters for the incredibly compassionate way in which such a difficult situation has been handled. Sincerely, from every single one of us at Rotherham United, thank you. @BCFC”

In a further update, they added: Having been given permission to share this information by the family of the supporter who was taken seriously ill during the game against Birmingham City on Saturday, Rotherham United would like to once again express its sincere thanks to everyone inside AESSEAL New York Stadium and provide them with the following update.

The fan, Sid Barraclough, was taken ill in the 11th minute of the match when he suffered a heart attack before his situation was brought to medics’ attention by other supporters in the stands.

A response that can only be described as heroic followed from by St. John’s Ambulance, medical professionals and volunteers on-site and first team staff from both Rotherham United and Birmingham City and allowed Sid to leave the stadium for hospital – where he remains in critical care.

Lee Barraclough, Sid’s son, has shared the following message on behalf of the family on social media: “For the fans concerned about the fan who collapsed yesterday, it was my dad ‘Sid’ he suffered a heart attack and is in critical care.

“I would like to send a heart-felt thanks to the paramedics, medical staff, stewards, and the fans for their patience while my dad was attended to and to the lady who looked after our son, Noah, who was with my dad at the match.”

It goes without saying that our thoughts and prayers remain with Sid and all of his family at this incredibly difficult time and we politely ask that their privacy continues to be respected.

Once again, we would like to remind those same medically trained individuals, the stewards, the Police and every single fan inside the ground of our gratitude for their efforts and compassion in inconceivably distressing circumstances.

The response to a fellow football fan falling ill yesterday was, in our eyes, a credit to the game.

❤️ | Heroes. #rufc | #ForeverTogetherForeverProud pic.twitter.com/zQPx2jEhfw

— Rotherham United (@RotherhamUnited) April 20, 2024

Birmingham tweeted: “We’ll have a small break in play here owing to a supporter medical emergency. Sending our best wishes to those involved.

“The supporter in question has left the stadium with medical professionals.

“We would like to thank everyone for their compassion and patience. We send all our best wishes to those involved.”

Paul Davis of Rotherham Advertiser said in his commentary on Twitter: “Medical emergency in the East Stand. Game stopped.

“Players from both sides being taken off. Respectful applause from fans on all sides of NYS as the spectator is taken from the ground.

“Everyone’s best wishes go with them. Football family. Applause now for the medical team. Birmingham fans the best to come to NYS in my decade covering Rotherham. Respect.

“Rotherham thank supporters of both sides over the PA system. Male spectator now in an ambulance on the way to hospital. Teams back out.”

Interview with Steve Evans on the Birmingham draw, plus some words for the Rotherham supporter who was taken to hospital #RUFC pic.twitter.com/eZmiTcsade

— Rob Staton (@robstaton) April 20, 2024

Birmingham fans invade pitch only to have goal disallowed and get ejected by Rotherham stewards

Twitter users gave their reaction while Rotherham and Birmingham fans shake hands with medics and police after the medical emergency…

@slyfield_john: Thank you rotheram and Birmingham city for your efforts to provide first aid and also to the medical facilities involved in this football supporter’s care. Everyone who arrives at a football match should be able to go home. Hoping for a swift recovery for this person.

@mickbcfc1975: As an away fan in the ground, it was an awful thing to see, I’m sure I speak on all BCFC fans and wish the supporter all the best and hope he makes a full recovery 🙏🏻 there is more to life than football and it’s times like this that makes you realise that #kro #bcfc

@Duzc1972: Well done to the medical team, we are so lucky to have people like you around. Rotherham and Birmingham supporters were outstanding too. Hope the person in question is ok and makes a full recovery.

@MattyBrennan: Massive respect to the SJA volunteers that responded to. Hope the fan recovers 🙏. The way your fans dealt with the whole incident was exceptional. 👏

@Papaulski_CP: Wishing the fan involved all the best and hopefully they’re back watching Rotherham in the near future! KRO!!!! 💙

@justinbcfc92: Thoughts are with him and his family 💙❤️

@MichaelSWBirley: Thank you to our medical staff. Both volunteers and professional. Some things are more important than footie. Really hope the supporter is ok.

@PaulKrol4: Hope the person is okay. All the best from Blues fans.

@DaveHarries: Bristol City fan here wishing a speedy recovery to the fan involved from this game.

@owenosborne11: Blessings from a blues fan get well soon 💙 KRO

@Whaudhjsiai: On behalf of blues, we all sincerely hope the fan recovers and all is well. Genuine respect to the fans aswell and all the emergency services on how they went about it! Well done to all and once again, best wishes to the fan and his/her family. 🙏🙏

@TrevLakin: The staff and all involved should be rewarded, brilliant job by all, appreciated by all..👏👏

@l_smith283: Fingers crossed the fan’s okay 💙

@jamielilly10: fair play to the fans who were so quick to signal for attention and for the medics who were so quick to respond. sending thoughts to them and their family 🫶

@SamSamarikol2: Sending healing thoughts to the Rotherham fan.

@snoopmeg: Hope the fan is ok!

@Con_Bcfc: Sending prayers to the family ❤️

@blueboy2333: My thoughts are with the person and there family 🙏

@blueJo85: Thinking of them and their loved ones for a quick recovery 💙

@xxbluey1875xx: Hope they are ok! KRO 💙🤍

@PowellyMSP19: Thoughts with the supporter and family, and massive credit to the medical personnel. KRO 💙

@DanGaughan_: Speedy recovery

@Sandycal999: Thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this sad time #KRO 💙

@richwilkes7: Hope the fan is OK….thoughts with them and their family.

@hollowsounds_: Thoughts with the supporter and everyone else affected 💙