'A very emotional day for us' - Ashley Young meets Everton supporter back playing football after he 'died'

Nick Thomas enjoyed a special invite to Goodison Park from Ashley Young after the player learned of the lifelong Evertonian’s amazing comeback after ‘dying’ on the football pitch.

The 46-year-old works as a GP but his life was saved by the quick-thinking medical skills of others who revived him after he collapsed while playing his weekly Astroturf game with friends in Oxfordshire. Young heard about the tale and asked Nick’s family to come to Everton’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest as his guests.

Nick told the ECHO: “It was unbelievable. It was a huge shock and as a family it was a very emotional day for us because we’re so lucky to be together.

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“The video message he sent was something else. We do a lot now with the British Heart Foundation, trying to raise the awareness of CPR and how important it is and it’s amazing that Everton reached out with Ashley.

“It’s an incredible story because I’m so lucky to be here, I know that. I’m thankful for each day that I’m here.

“For Ashley to put the offer out for us to come up and watch a home game, especially one as important as this, it’s incredible. We’re all Evertonians so it’s brilliant.”

Nick was joined at the game by his wife and three sons but explains he owes his life to the actions of his team-mates. He said: “I work hard and play hard, playing football every Thursday in a regular game that’s been going on for about 20 years but I’m one of the fitter ones that play and then down I went. I was so lucky to have the three guys there who knew what to do and if it wasn’t for them, I