Bundesliga star thanks quick-thinking referee for saving his life after horror collision saw him swallow his tongue
A TOP footballer has thanked referee Patrick Ittrich for potentially saving his life after a horror on-field collision.
Mainz star Josuha Guilavogui’s head collided with team-mate Anthony Caci’s knee during Saturday’s match at Bayern Munich.
The Frenchman was left motionless on the ground and looked to be unconscious before Ittrich arrived and put him in the recovery position.
Quick-thinking official Ittrich then adjusted his tongue so he could breathe again.
The incident took place on the half hour mark and Guilavogui was subbed off five minutes later for Edimilson Fernandes.
And he expressed his gratitude to ref Ittrich on social media after the game.
He posted on X: “Thank you very much for the quick intervention and the help provided, Patrick Ittrich, my teammates and the doctors at Mainz!”
Ittrich said: “You just have to act quickly, there’s no praise for it.”
The game ended in an 8-1 hammering for Mainz with Harry Kane scoring three but – due to Bundesliga rules – it did not count as a hat-trick.
For a “true hat-trick” in German football, one must score three goals in the same half all consecutively, with no one else bagging in between.
With Kane scoring Bayern’s first, third and seventh unfortunately it does count, despite him taking home the match ball regardless.
He posted after the game: “Perfect afternoon! Gotta keep this momentum up.”
The emphatic result sees the Bavarians move to within seven points of leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
And England skipper Kane improved his sensational tally for the season to 36 goals in 34 matches.