VOLUNTEERS who helped to save the life of a rugby player have been praised.

Team-mates of Redcar Thirds player Mark Fletcher, 29, were told that he 'died twice' during efforts to save him during a match on Saturday.

The player, who has been at Redcar Rugby Club since he was six, faces up to three months in Middlesbrough General Hospital after sustaining a serious neck injury.

The prop forward tried to scream out for help when a scrum collapsed in a game at Hartlepool on Saturday but the words wouldn't come out. Eventually the team nurse and other volunteers battled to save him after he stopped breathing and turned blue.

Emergency services were called and he was taken to hospital in Hartlepool before being transferred to Middlesbrough General. There were fears Mr Fletcher's spine had been damaged but an operation was avoided after tests.

Firefighters have praised five people who helped to save Mr Fletcher's life with the kiss of life and heart massage. They were Redcar team nurse Maureen Best along with West Hartlepool Amateurs and West Hartlepool North League One team members Stu Anderson, Mike Geritz and Andy Quinn and physio Nick Matthews.

Redcar Rugby Club secretary Phil Taylor said: "Mark is a very popular member of the club and everyone is thinking of him.

"I've already contacted West Hartlepool Amateurs to thank everyone who helped to save Mark, but I'd also publicly like to thank everyone who helped."

Mark, married to Michelle, is an accounts clerk at Redcar and Cleveland Council.