BUDLEIGH Salterton captain Lloyd Murrin has publicly thanked opponents Exeter and match umpires Peter Jolliffe and Steve Walker for the way a medical emergency was dealt with during the game.

A Budleigh Salterton player was taken ill during the game and had to be rushed to hospital for treatment. He was suffering from prolonged chest pains and, because no ambulance was available, he was taken to hospital by car. 

Murrin said the way Exeter and the umpires acted and reacted showed that the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ remains strong in Devon.

“Unfortunately, one of our players was rushed to hospital midway through the first innings,” said Murrin.

“I want to say a massive ‘thank-you’ to Steve and especially Peter who were fantastic with the running of the game and with helping out our player.

“Also a huge thank you to Exeter skipper Robin Fern. He was superb and loaned us a sub fielder. Not a lot of teams would of done that.”

Jolliffe, a familiar figure around the grounds as a player before he took up umpiring, is a retired doctor. For medical confidentiality reasons he declined to comment on the incident.

Murrin said the player concerned, who has not been named, returned home after attending hospital and is okay.