ACCRINGTON Stanley's club doctor helped save the life of a man who had been assaulted outside the ground after last Saturday's match.

Dr Joyce Watson rushed to the aid of 42-year-old Robert Taylor, of Rishton, as he lay unconscious on the floor, bleeding from serious head and facial injuries.

Police have praised her swift actions which they say almost certainly saved Mr Taylor, who will need facial reconstruction surgery.

But modest Dr Watson, who administered first aid techniques that brought Mr Taylor back to consciousness and allowed him to breathe more easily, said: "It's only part of my job. It was just by chance that I was there. We were just about getting ready to leave when it happened.

"I was called to someone who had collapsed outside the social club. The guy was unconscious and bleeding. With some assistance from the club I managed to help him breathe again and keep him comfortable until the ambulance came.

"There were a lot of people involved, members of staff at Accrington Stanley. People called for help quickly and got us water and towels. Everyone who was involved did exactly the right thing."

She added: "I work in general practice but I also train in pre-hospital care and this incident is exactly the sort of thing I am trained to deal with.

"Facial injuries are very difficult and I'm sure my training did make a difference between him remaining unconscious and recovering. It's what to do and not to do in the 10 minutes before an ambulance comes because you can easily make things worse.

"I have seen things in a hospital situation but it's different in the community. I had not seen anything as bad as this before."

Mr Taylor was allegedly attacked after he left the ground following a celebratory drink after the 3-2 win over Peterborough.

He is believed to have tried to break up a domestic argument between a man and his partner.

But it is claimed the man turned on Mr Taylor, punched him to the floor and kicked him repeatedly, causing him to lose consciousness.

The man fled the scene but was later arrested at a house in Accrington.

Detective Inspector Paul Withers, of Blackburn CID, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a totally unprovoked assault on a decent member of the public.

"He attempted to protect a vulnerable female who was being threatened by her partner.

"As a result of this he was assaulted violently and repeatedly kicked as he lay unconscious on the floor."

He added: "I am convinced that the intervention of an off-duty doctor may well have saved this man's life."

  • A 36-YEAR-OLD Accrington man appeared at Blackburn Magis-trates Court on Monday in connection with the incident, charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

No plea was entered and he was remanded in custody to Burnley Crown Court on 11 July.