The League One clash between Exeter City and Blackpool was brought to a standstill on Saturday afternoon after a medical emergency in the crowd.
The incident unfolded late in the first half at St James’ Park, with Exeter leading 2-1.
Around the 38th minute, referee Charles Breakspear stopped the game after spotting commotion in the away end, where a Blackpool supporter required urgent medical attention.
With temperatures in Exeter climbing to around 25°C, concerns quickly grew that the heat may have been a factor.
The League One clash between Exeter City and Blackpool was brought to a standstill on Saturday afternoon after a medical emergency in the crowd
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Match officials promptly guided both sets of players towards the tunnel while medical staff and stewards rushed to the scene.
Exeter City confirmed the situation on their official X account at 3:41 pm, posting: “38 | A break in play as a medical incident in the away end is being dealt with.”
Just two minutes later, the club provided an update: “40 | We are back underway.”
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Supporters reacted with concern online.
One fan wrote: “Oh gosh, hope the person is okay. We’ve seen too many of these things happen last season.”
Another added: “Well done to the medical teams for acting so quickly.”
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38 | A break in play as a medical incident in the away end is being dealt with ❤️#ECFC 2-1 BPL | #SemperFidelis
— Exeter City FC (@OfficialECFC) August 9, 2025
The break in play lasted several minutes before the players returned to the field, with the fourth official adding four minutes of stoppage time at the end of the half to compensate.
While there was no immediate update on the condition of the supporter, the quick and coordinated response ensured the match could resume in a safe environment.
Exeter are aiming to win their second League One match of the season.
They lost 1-0 to Doncaster last time out, with Luke Molyneux scoring the only goal of the game.
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Exeter and Blackpool are both seeking their first League One victories of the new season
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It's a similar story with Blackpool, too.
The former Premier League side lost 3-2 to Stevenage on matchday one, with Jamie Reid's brace and Dan Kemp's effort enough for the visitors to claim all three points.