Onlookers at an amateur rugby match have been praised after bringing a player back to life after he "died" twice in a freak accident.

Mark Fletcher collapsed during an amateur match in Hartlepool, in which it is thought he damaged his spine, causing a seizure.

Club staff, an off-duty firefighter and a physiotherapist kept Mr Fletcher, 38, alive until an ambulance crew arrived.

Club secretary Tony Wilson said: "They brought Mark back twice. They did a tremendous job."

'Broken neck'

The accident happened during a game between Hartlepool Amateur Second Team and Redcar Amateur Third Team at Brinkburn School, Hartlepool, on Saturday.

Mr Wilson said: "It was a collapsed scrum, the guy went over.

"Our second team manager Andy Quinn did a tremendous job keeping him alive for about 15 minutes before the ambulance arrived. I am told he died twice.

"Andy has done a superb job and gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

"It was thought it was possibly a broken neck and that brought on a seizure."

Partial movement

Off-duty firefighter Stuart Anderson helped Mr Quinn in keeping Mr Fletcher alive.

They were joined by physiotherapist Michael Jertz who had been attending an adjacent game.

Mr Fletcher, who plays prop for Redcar, is believed to have only partial movement down one side of his body.

He was initially taken to Hartlepool General Hospital, but was later transferred to the spinal unit at Middlesbrough General Hospital.

A spokeswoman for the hospital described Mr Fletcher's condition as stable.