BASINGSTOKE Town midfielder Alex Ewin has paid tribute to club physio Mark Randall for saving his life.

The 21-year-old fell to the pitch unconscious and stopped breathing for a full minute after swallowing his tongue in a sickening clash of heads during Town's 2-1 Bryco Cup victory at Uxbridge on Tuesday.

The 10th-minute incident left players, the Town bench and fans shocked as they watched Ewin collapse and lie motionless on the ground.

But thanks to the presence and expertise of Randall, who immediately rushed on to the pitch to administer first aid and resuscitate the player, a potential fatality was avoided.

Ewin was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital in Uxbridge, accompanied by Town chairman Dave Knight, but was later released at 1am after his condition improved.

Recovering at his home in Bentley near Alton, Ewin told The Gazette: "It's so scary to think that I could have died. If I had been playing for a Sunday league team instead, I would probably be dead.

"I am so lucky that Mark was there. I don't remember anything at all, but speaking to him yesterday made me realise how fortunate I am to be alive.

"He told me that I was unconscious for two minutes and wasn't breathing because I had swallowed my tongue. He had to scoop out a pool of blood and some mud from my mouth but my tongue wouldn't come out.

"He said he had all of the worst-case scenarios flashing through his mind - what he would have to say to my parents if I died and things like that.

"He said those thoughts forced him to be very brutal and dig the tongue out forcefully with his thumb, which he had to keep in my mouth to stop my tongue falling back down my throat. He was then able to resuscitate me but I remember very little of the next few hours.

"They say your life flashes before your eyes and I must admit it was a bit like that. It's been a horrible, scary experience and my parents and I are just so grateful to Mark for what he did."

Town manager Ernie Howe said: "It shows just how lucky we are to have someone like Mark employed at the club. There is no doubt that his actions helped save Alex's life.

"Mark was superb in dealing with the situation so calmly. If it had been anyone else, then we could have had a death on our hands."

Ewin will be out of action for the next 10 days while he recovers.