AFC BOURNEMOUTH chairman Jeff Mostyn paid a surprise hospital visit to the grandfather who suffered a cardiac arrest during the match at Goldsands Stadium.

Michael Topps’s heart stopped for two minutes after he collapsed in the main stand during the first half of the Cherries’ match against Derby County.

The 68-year-old was successfully resuscitated by paramedics underneath the stand and was then rushed to Royal Bournemouth Hospital accompanied by his grandson Josh.

Chairman Jeff Mostyn visited the cardiac high-dependency ward at Southampton General where Michael is recovering and waiting for a heart bypass operation.

He said: “I joked around with Michael and said saving his life was the best result we’ve had for three weeks. “He was actually technically dead for two minutes as his heart stopped. “He acknowledged that he owes his life to the expertise, care and professionalism of all the paramedics and medical officers at the scene.”

“You could tell Michael and his grandson are both really genuine fans as they were absolutely ecstatic when I paid them the surprise visit. He said that even if the Queen had visited it wouldn’t have been as special.”

The Cherries chairman has invited the whole of Michael’s family to the boardroom to watch a match as soon as he has fully recovered.

A spokesperson from South Western Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 3.21pm to an elderly male patient at the Goldsands stadium during the football match on Saturday, November 23.

“Our paramedics were on the scene within three minutes and the patient was taken to Royal Bournemouth Hospital.”

Eddie Howe’s Cherries lost the match 1-0 against Derby.