Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk midfielder Jaba Kankava helped Dynamo Kiev captain Oleg Gusev after he suffered a life-threatening injury during Sunday’s Ukrainian Premier League clash.
Ukraine international Gusev took a knee to the head from Dnipro goalkeeper Denis Boyko after attempting to meet a cross, before falling to the ground where he lay unconscious and swallowed his tongue.
After the fall, Georgia international Kankava immediately rushed over to his opponent, before dislodging his tongue to prevent it from blocking his airways. Gusev regained consciousness and was carried off on a stretcher after medical officials had rushed onto the field.
Dnipro tweeted out a video of the incident.
Столкновение Бойко и Гусева (все камеры) #ДнепрДинамо http://t.co/1DCaOOgact
— ФК «Днепр» (@fcdnipro) March 31, 2014
Dynamo team doctor Leonid Myronov told footboom.com that Gusev was fortunate to have escaped without more serious damage.
“He sustained medium concussion, several bruises and a bruised jaw,” Myronov said. “He is lucky to have such light injuries. His spine, skull and bones are all intact -- no breaks or fractures.
“He lost consciousness for a short period, had seizures and swallowed his tongue, but our colleagues from Dnipro had provided him emergency professional assistance, and everything was settled.”
Dnipro went on to win the match 2-0, leapfrogging Dynamo into second place.