Boy's suspected cardiac arrest during football training in Swansea

A young boy had to be resuscitated by a coach and a parent after having a suspected cardiac arrest during a football training session.

The boy was training with Penlan Football Club at the Phoenix Centre in Townhill, Swansea, on Tuesday evening when he collapsed.

His club said the boy appeared to have a fit before he stopped breathing.

Club officials said they have been told by the boy's parents that he is now "awake and talking" in hospital.

"He'll stay in hospital to be monitored over the next 48 hours but big steps to what will hopefully be a full recovery," said the club on the Penlan Juniors AFC Facebook page.

"We would like to thank you all for the support and messages that we've received and will pass them all on."

The Welsh Ambulance Service said it was called just after 18:40 GMT to reports a person needed "urgent medical attention".

The boy was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

Jamie Daniels, vice-chairman of Penlan Juniors AFC, said the under-12s had been carrying out a light training session and were returning from a drinks break when the incident happened.

"The player involved didn't get up and the coach started calling him and he started having a fit, or what looked like a fit," he said.

"He was breathing quite heavily so the coach then was trying to reassure him. They thought he was having a heart attack - that hasn't been confirmed yet.

"One of the coaches went to get the defibrillator from the Phoenix Centre at the reception. While this was going on, the player involved had stopped breathing.

"One of the coaches and one of the parents that was there carried out CPR and - by the time the coach got back with the defibrillator - he had regained his breathing. By that point the paramedics had arrived."

Mr Daniels said the boy's parents were not present when he collapsed but were called and arrived at the same time as the ambulance.

The club's first team manager, posting as Crabby on Twitter, had said on Tuesday the boy had suffered a cardiac arrest.

"The young lad was given CPR by parents who brought his breath back and then was transferred to Cardiff Heath, thoughts are with all the family," he tweeted.

Former world boxing champion Enzo Maccarinelli said he saw the incident happen.

He tweeted: "Just seen an u12 footballer collapse on the pitch, stopped breathing."

He said parents gave him CPR and brought his breathing back.

He added: "Without doubt the most frightened I've ever been, he will be in my prayers tonight."

Swansea City FC tweeted: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the @PenlanClubAFC U12s player who suffered a cardiac arrest during a training session last night."

Former Swansea player Lee Trundle also tweeted the club, saying: "Let me know if there's anything I can do for him when he's home boys."

Clubs from across Wales have also been sending support to the boy on social media.

Councillor June Burtonshaw said: "It's a very close-knit community in Penlan, especially with the sports clubs which are so popular with youngsters. We all hope he recovers quickly."

Lifesaving awareness charity Cariad, which helped install the defibrillator at the Phoenix Centre, said it was "sending all our love and a speedy recovery to the young Penlan Juniors AFC footballer, who collapsed whilst training last night. Get well soon champ".