TRIBUTES have been paid to a footballer who died after collapsing at a Sunday league match.Bradley Chittock, 34, was taken ill during a game between his team, Harts, and the Sunday Shrimpers at Low Road in Dovercourt.

By Annie Davidson

TRIBUTES have been paid to a footballer who died after collapsing at a Sunday league match.

Bradley Chittock, 34, was taken ill during a game between his team, Harts, and the Sunday Shrimpers at Low Road in Dovercourt.

Mr Chittock, of Clacton, came off the pitch about 15 minutes into the game on Sunday after complaining of feeling unwell and collapsed on the touchline.

Colin Rogers, who helps with the managing of the Sunday Shrimpers, helped to care for Mr Chittock while the ambulance was on its way.

A trained first aider, Mr Rogers, of Dovercourt, said he was alerted to the fact Mr Chittock was unwell and went to offer assistance.

He helped to comfort Mr Chittock until a medically-trained first responder arrived, followed shortly afterwards by an ambulance.

Mr Rogers said: “I am trained in first aid and two or three of the Harts club officials were with him already.

“We rang an ambulance straight away and when the first responder arrived and then the paramedics came and took him, we felt relieved he was in good hands and was going to be okay.

“We were saying later in the day that we would have to phone and see how he was when the police arrived and said he had passed away.”

He said: “It was tragic, terrible news. It would be sad if it was someone who was 60 or 70 but in someone so young it is devastating. It makes other problems fade into insignificance. It is devastating for us, so what must it be like for his family and his club.”

A spokesman for the Clacton and District Sunday Football League said Mr Chittock had told the referee he felt unwell and asked to leave the pitch.

The spokesman said: “They laid him down and the first aider came to treat him and called for an ambulance.

“He was treated in the ambulance and taken away and the game went on because nobody realised the seriousness of the situation.

“He was very, very well liked and one of the life-bloods of the club, a long serving member. Everyone is very shocked.”

A spokesperson for Essex Ambulance Service said initially it was believed that Mr Chittock had clashed heads with another player.

However, onlookers told the EADT there had been no such incident.

The ambulance spokeswoman said: “He suddenly went into cardiac arrest when crews got him into the ambulance.

“The extra paramedic from the rapid response car travelled in the ambulance so two people were able to carry out resuscitation efforts on the way to hospital.

“Despite the best efforts of the ambulance crews and medics at Colchester General, he was declared deceased at hospital.”