Club issues update after fan taken to hospital by air ambulance prior to EFL clash

The Notts County fan who fell ill ahead of their 1-1 draw with Newport County is in a “serious but stable condition” after he was taken to hospital by air ambulance

Notts County have issued an update on the fan who was taken to hospital by air ambulance after falling ill ahead of their game against Newport County on Saturday. The incident occurred less than an hour before kick off at Rodney Parade in Newport.

Two air ambulances landed on the pitch and the game eventually started at 4pm after the fan had been transported to hospital. And Notts County have now revealed that the supporter is in a “serious but stable condition”.

In a post on social media, the club wrote: “A Notts fan who was taken ill before today’s game is in a serious but stable condition in hospital. We will provide further updates when appropriate and we continue to send our thoughts and best wishes to the supporter and their family.”

The fan was taken to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, with Wales Air Ambulance saying in a statement: “I can confirm that two Wales Air Ambulance crews attended a medical emergency at Rodney Parade in Newport this afternoon (August 2, 2025), the first arriving on scene 2:22pm.”

The game ended 1-1 after it eventually kicked off, with Gerard Garner giving Newport the lead before Jodi Jones equalised for Notts County from the penalty spot.

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“We don’t know the full details yet, but we know it’s someone associated with our football club so we wish him and his family all the best,” Notts County boss Martin Paterson said after the game.

“It just puts things into perspective. We as a football club were willing to wait as long as we had to so that the supporter was taken care of.”

Newport manager David Hughes added: “Everyone’s thoughts are with the individual who was involved in the medical emergency. Him and his family are in everyone’s thinking.”

Reflecting on the result, Paterson said: “At half-time I was disappointed not to be one or two goals to the good, with some of our play and the clear-cut chances that we created. But football owes you absolutely nothing.

“You have to take those chances because you leave yourself open for certain styles to hurt you. We conceded a set-play goal that was very avoidable and we had to have a reaction to get a goal back.

“I’m disappointed not to win the game, but if teams play in a certain manner and are effective with it there’s nothing wrong with that – we can’t complain, we just have to be better at being us.”

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