The quick action of a local referee has saved the life of a Socceroos young gun.
Adelaide United young gun Nestory Irankunda could not breathe after taking a heavy fall in a state-league match on Friday night.
The semi-final against Campbelltown City was just minutes away from full-time when panic set in after the 17-year-old crashed face-first into the turf.
Irankunda, who scored a sensational match-winning goal 20 minutes earlier, was immediately surrounded by the referee as teammates and rivals also rushed to his side.
“He was gasping for air,” the referee Dr Christian Verdicchio told 7NEWS.
“It was at that point, when he was holding his throat, it was very clear that he was not in a good situation.”
Dr Verdicchio, a cardiac rehabilitation expert, immediately recognised the danger.
“Rolled him over, tried to get the tongue out and once that was done just kept him there side-on,” he said.
“I’ve seen players hit the floor before and not breathe but that one was something different. He was not in a good place at all.”
Conscious throughout, Irankunda remained motionless for more than three minutes before slowly making his way to the bench.
He reported to training on Saturday morning and will be monitored over the coming days.
“At the end of the day it’s just one of those things – coulda woulda – but at the end of the day he’s here,” Dr Verdicchio said.
“And he’ll probably back soon on the pitch again.”
The doctor said he was just doing what anyone else would have done.
“Referees aren’t heroes, we’re villains at the end of the day,” he joked.
Irankunda shot to stardom when he debuted for Adelaide last season and already earned a call-up to the Socceroos senior team in March this year.
The teenager is one of the hottest properties in world football and is valued in excess of $2 million, having attracted interest from European giants Bayern Munich.
The A-League men’s season begins on October 20 with Irankunda’s Adelaide hosting reigning champions Central Coast.
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