Ex-Chelsea star Sam Hutchinson reveals he had HEART ATTACK in game he scored winner that sent Wimbledon to playoffs
AFC WIMBLEDON defender Sam Hutchinson has revealed that he suffered a heart attack just six minutes into a crucial League Two match - and then went on to score.
The 35-year-old endured the frightening ordeal against Grimbsy Town earlier this month.
3
Just moments into the match, unbeknownst to him, Hutchinson suffered a heart attack while on the pitch.
As he wasn't aware of what was happening, the defender played on and completed the full match.
He even scored the decisive goal in the 52nd minute as Wimbledon clinched a 1-0 win to secure a place in the League Two play-offs.
But it wasn't until after full-time that he realised something was seriously wrong.
Recalling the ordeal while speaking to Wimbledon club media this week, he explained: "It's crazy really. Obviously I was experiencing a lot of pain then.
"I look back as well and my mrs said: 'Oh you didn't look right when you had the interview,' and then I got back on the coach, started getting more chest pains, the adrenaline wore off and we ended up making a pit stop in Nottingham."
He continued: "Bob [Bacic, head physio] took me in and basically they said I had a heart attack.
"Then they said it could be an infection, so I was in there for five days.
"I was like a pin cushion by the end of it, I was getting loads of tests done.
"And then it turned out, yeah, I did actually have a heart attack.
Incredible before and after video shows AFC Wimbledon's progress fixing huge sinkhole after Carabao Cup clash postponed
"A branch of an artery was blocked, 75 per cent, so I had an angiogram and they put a stent in. I had that in London and saw a top specialist who was unbelievable.
"And I'm on the road to recovery now."
Hutchinson went on to admit that he "broke down" after being told he'd suffered a heart attack because he didn't want his football career to end.
But the specialist he saw insisted there is "no problem" with him continuing to play.
AFC Wimbledon face Walsall in the League Two play-off final on Monday.
And while he is "devastated" that he will miss the occasion, Hutchinson is looking forward to watching.
He added: "I'm there to support the boys and fingers crossed we can get it over the line and do what everyone wants us to do.
"I genuinely think I could play, obviously it would be dangerous but that's just my opinion. I'm never going to but I'd love to."
Hutchinson joined Chelsea at the age of nine and graduated from the club's academy to make the first team.
However, he was limited to just six senior appearances in total.
The defender was loaned out to Nottingham Forest, Vitesse and Sheffield Wednesday before completing a permanent move to the Hillsborough Stadium.
He then went on to play for Pafos and Reading before joining AFC Wimbledon in December.
3
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
England jeered after unimpressive win over minnows Andorra
The German coach called for relentlessness and patience against the side 173rd in FIFA's world rankings but got neither as the stuttering Euro 2024 runners-up were jeered at the end of both halves. This was the third time England have failed to score a first-half goal against Andorra in Barcelona, where the minnows kept out Steve McClaren's side in 2007 and Fabio Capello's team the following year. A 1-0 win for the #ThreeLions in Barcelona 👊 — England (@England) June 7, 2025 There was a breakthrough shortly after the break in both of those matches, just as there was in Saturday's World Cup qualifier when Harry Kane finally gave the 6,950 travelling fans something to cheer about. England's captain turned in lively Noni Madueke's cross in the 50th minute, yet the goals did not flow from that point and slow play brought further grumbles. Some fans made an early exit and there were more boos at the end of Tuchel's third win in charge. The England boss had named an attack-minded line-up at the RCDE Stadium – where the match was held as Andorra's new ground was not quite ready – and saw his side boss 83 per cent of first-half possession. But the Group K leaders were unable to turn dominance into a first-half opener as well-drilled, defence-minded Andorra held firm on a warm evening in Spain. Jude Bellingham saw a shot saved inside the opening minute and Curtis Jones soon saw an attempt blocked, with Ezri Konsa then denied a penalty despite being wrestled to the ground. Andorra goalkeeper Iker Alvarez looked uncertain at some set-pieces but produced some important stops, with his 14th-minute save from Madueke the most impressive. Kane struck wide from close range and Bellingham saw an attempt through a crowd saved but England's play was lacking incision. Andorra's support whistled for half-time as Bellingham saw a flicked header held in stoppage time, which ended with boos from unimpressed England fans. It was not only the performance that some supporters expressed anger with as Prime Minister Keir Starmer copped some flak at points during the first half. Ricard Fernandez's attempt to score Andorra's first goal against England went well wide early in the second half and the visitors finally broke the deadlock in the 50th minute. Jones slipped a ball through for stretching Kane to prod goalwards, with Madueke reacting quickest to Alvarez's save and sending a low ball back across for the skipper to stab home. England goal number 7️⃣2️⃣ for @HKane ⚽️🏴 — England (@England) June 7, 2025 Madueke was denied before Tuchel turned to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eberechi Eze. The latter saw a header tipped over by Alvarez, increasing Andorran anticipation when substitute Guillaume Lopez skipped past Dan Burn to see a shot blocked by Konsa. Play petered out as some England fans made an early exit, understandably preferring to get their Saturday night started in Barcelona rather than see through a dreary conclusion. There was a chance at the death but Andorra escaped, England fans letting their annoyance known but later applauding the players.
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
England jeered after unimpressive win over minnows Andorra
The German coach called for relentlessness and patience against the side 173rd in FIFA's world rankings but got neither as the stuttering Euro 2024 runners-up were jeered at the end of both halves. This was the third time England have failed to score a first-half goal against Andorra in Barcelona, where the minnows kept out Steve McClaren's side in 2007 and Fabio Capello's team the following year. A 1-0 win for the #ThreeLions in Barcelona 👊 — England (@England) June 7, 2025 There was a breakthrough shortly after the break in both of those matches, just as there was in Saturday's World Cup qualifier when Harry Kane finally gave the 6,950 travelling fans something to cheer about. England's captain turned in lively Noni Madueke's cross in the 50th minute, yet the goals did not flow from that point and slow play brought further grumbles. Some fans made an early exit and there were more boos at the end of Tuchel's third win in charge. The England boss had named an attack-minded line-up at the RCDE Stadium – where the match was held as Andorra's new ground was not quite ready – and saw his side boss 83 per cent of first-half possession. But the Group K leaders were unable to turn dominance into a first-half opener as well-drilled, defence-minded Andorra held firm on a warm evening in Spain. Jude Bellingham saw a shot saved inside the opening minute and Curtis Jones soon saw an attempt blocked, with Ezri Konsa then denied a penalty despite being wrestled to the ground. Andorra goalkeeper Iker Alvarez looked uncertain at some set-pieces but produced some important stops, with his 14th-minute save from Madueke the most impressive. Kane struck wide from close range and Bellingham saw an attempt through a crowd saved but England's play was lacking incision. Andorra's support whistled for half-time as Bellingham saw a flicked header held in stoppage time, which ended with boos from unimpressed England fans. It was not only the performance that some supporters expressed anger with as Prime Minister Keir Starmer copped some flak at points during the first half. Ricard Fernandez's attempt to score Andorra's first goal against England went well wide early in the second half and the visitors finally broke the deadlock in the 50th minute. Jones slipped a ball through for stretching Kane to prod goalwards, with Madueke reacting quickest to Alvarez's save and sending a low ball back across for the skipper to stab home. England goal number 7️⃣2️⃣ for @HKane ⚽️🏴 — England (@England) June 7, 2025 Madueke was denied before Tuchel turned to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eberechi Eze. The latter saw a header tipped over by Alvarez, increasing Andorran anticipation when substitute Guillaume Lopez skipped past Dan Burn to see a shot blocked by Konsa. Play petered out as some England fans made an early exit, understandably preferring to get their Saturday night started in Barcelona rather than see through a dreary conclusion. There was a chance at the death but Andorra escaped, England fans letting their annoyance known but later applauding the players.
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Simpson survives two knockdowns to stop Zucco
Super-middleweight Callum Simpson picked himself up off the canvas twice before securing a stunning stoppage victory over Ivan Zucco in his home town of 28, made history as he maintained his unbeaten record (18-0) to become the town's first European champion when he stopped Italy's Zucco in the 10th round at Barnsley FC's Oakwell Stadium. The Englishman dedicated the win to his sister, Lily-Rae Simpson, who died aged 19 in a car accident in Greece last year."Not once did I give up, in those last few rounds I'll be honest I started thinking about my little sister Lily," Simpson said."I'll be honest, I just thought I had to push for her and for everybody. This time last year, Lily was sat up here cheering me on and she was there with me tonight when it got tough, when it got hard."From round eight, I thought, 'I've got to dig deep, I've got to keep pushing, I've got to do it for her'. She was with me tonight."With the win, Simpson puts himself in prime contention for a step up to world level by the end of the the raucous Oakwell crowd feared the worse with only eight seconds on the clock in in the opening round when Zucco downed Simpson with a hard left shook off the early knockdown and buzzed Zucco with some fine punching of his own, but the home favourite was caught too square in the third round, dropped for the second time by a left on by 23,000 inside the football ground, Simpson was not to be deterred and he continued to advance - taking a number of risks along the sensed an opening in the 10th round as he stalked Zucco before launching a stunning left uppercut on the chin of his opponent - who then sank to his knees before beating the was subjected to another punishing uppercut and slumped to his knees but he bravely rose on the count of eight, until a third knockdown meant the Italian's corner pulled their man out of the fight.
