Dnipro's Jaba Kankava saves Kiev captain's life after he swallows tongue

Footballer saves opponent's life in Ukrainian league

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26838613

 

The Dynamo Kiev captain, Oleg Gusev, had a narrow escape after swallowing his tongue before being saved by an opposition player.

Gusev had challenged for a cross with Denys Boyko and collapsed on the floor unconscious after a blow from the Dnipro goalkeeper's knee.

The Dnipro midfielder Jaba Kankava reacted instantly, sticking his hand down Gusev's throat to clear his airways. After a few minutes Gusev stood up before he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher. The only casualty appeared to be Kankava, who was seen ruefully shaking his hand after being accidently bitten during the incident.

"He sustained medium concussion, several bruises and a bruised jaw," the Dynamo team doctor Leonid Myronov said. "He is lucky to have such light injuries. His spine, skull and bones are all intact – no breaks or fractures.

"He lost consciousness for a short period, had seizures and swallowed his tongue but our colleagues from Dnipro had provided him emergency professional assistance and everything was settled."

Dnipro won the match 2-0, leapfrogging Dynamo into second place in the Ukrainian Premier League.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4okCy00yZg"]Jaba Kankava saves Oleg Gusev Life Днепр Динамо УжаÑное Ñтолкновение Бойко ГуÑевым Terrible injury - YouTube[/ame]

What a legend. Respect

 

Pretty crazy how fast they move in and help! Makes no difference that he is on the opposite team, the guy is just a good human being helping another. Top stuff.

 

Lets be honest here, it would be the least i would expect from any team/player.

They are hardly just going to stand about watching a man dying on a football pitch if they can do something.

 

I know what he means though, the guy has his hands down the other lads mouth saving his life before you could bat an eyelid. Amazingly quick reactions from him to help another person out, wasn't expecting much from the video when any good person would help out someone in need of help but it's an amazing clip really.

 

Im sure your tongue is really unlikely to block you breathing, that often gets said when people get knocked out or that but im sure it's really unlikely. Well done to the guy for helping but he was probably going to be fine anyway.

 

How do you swallow your tounge? Did it rip ?

 

ILTC is right, this was covered in an episode of QI; swallowing your tongue is a myth - apparently you naturally gag and spit it back up anyway.

 

It just flips down the back of your throat when you're unconscious I think.

 

There was a game at Hampden against Rangers (RIP) a few years back and Amarouso was lying poleaxed in the Celtic penalty area and it was all the Celtic players around him trying to help and there wasn't a hun within 30 yards of him.


Well done that player for seeing there was a problem and acting quickly.