8 August 2011 Last updated at 08:39 ET

Defibrillator used to revive GAA referee

A GAA referee is in a critical condition after he collapsed at a club game in Newry on Sunday night.

Thousands of people watched as a defibrillator was used to resuscitate Gabriel Tumelty when he collapsed on the pitch during a match between Burren and Longstone at Pairc Esler.

The 46-year-old was then rushed to Daisy Hill Hospital for treatment.

It is the second time two weeks that one of the machines has been used on a sports pitch in Northern Ireland.

A defibrillator was also used on Christopher McNeill, 17, when he collapsed at a Milk Cup match in County Londonderry on 25 July.

Mr Tumelty is in a critical condition in hospital and is due to be transferred to Craigavon later, according to the Southern Trust.

Medics from both football teams and three doctors, who were watching, the match came to the referee's assistance when he collapsed with just minutes left of injury time.

One of the Burren team members, who is a dentist, placed him in the recovery position. The defibrillator was then used to revive him and an ambulance arrived at the scene moments later.

The GAA said it wished Mr Tumelty a "speedy recovery".