Soccer

Ex-Newcastle United stopper Pavel Srnicek in a critical condition

‘Pavel was running last night and his heart stopped he was like that for 20 minutes then rushed to hospital’

Pavel Srnicek of the Czech Republic in action during the European Championships 2000 group match against Holland at the Amsterdam Arena in Amsterdam, Holland. Holland won the match 1-0. Photograph: Ben Radford /Allsport
Pavel Srnicek of the Czech Republic in action during the European Championships 2000 group match against Holland at the Amsterdam Arena in Amsterdam, Holland. Holland won the match 1-0. Photograph: Ben Radford /Allsport
Mon Dec 21 2015 - 13:45

A popular former Premier League goalkeeper is in a critical condition in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest while running, his agent has said.

Ex-Newcastle United stopper Pavel Srnicek was in his native Czech Republic when he collapsed and his heart stopped for 20 minutes, his representative Steve Wraith has tweeted.

He was put in an induced coma in hospital.

Mr Wraith wrote: “Pavel was running last night and his heart stopped he was like that for 20 minutes then rushed to hospital he is an induced coma until wed then they will see if his heart is stronger and if so bring him out of the coma.....no one knows if his brain has been to starved of oxygen” (sic).

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Srnicek was in Newcastle only last week to take part in an online chat with fans to promote his autobiography.

He was much-loved by the fans as part of the Newcastle United squad dubbed “The Entertainers” who almost won the Premier League in 1996.

Newcastle United tweeted: “Our best wishes go to PavelSrnicekUK, who has been taken to hospital today. Get well soon, Pav.”

Srnicek also played for Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and West Ham.