Francis Kone is a striker for Slovacko in the Czech First League, and over the weekend he saved the life of the opposing team’s goalie after a nasty collision.
Slovacko was playing Bohemians over the weekend when a first half collision between Bohemians goalkeeper Martin Berkovec and teammate Daniel Krch left Berkovec unconscious on the field. Kone was standing right by Berkovec and realized he was unconscious and in danger of choking on his own tongue, so Kone jumped into action and pulled his tongue out as Berkovec’s teammates came over to help roll him over onto his side.
Berkovec was taken to the hospital, but the 28-year-old keeper survived the scary collision and sent a message to Kone after the game on Facebook.
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“I would like to thank Francis Kone for his quick action in saving me during today’s match,” the 28-year-old wrote, as translated by ESPN FC. “I am grateful for the prompt help, and once again THANK YOU!!!”
The craziest thing about the story is that Kone told reporters after the match that this wasn’t the first time he’d saved an opponent’s life in this manner, as translated by ESPN FC.
“It wasn’t the first time I have done that. It’s something like the fourth time. Twice in Africa, once in Thailand,” Kone told the Czech media. “I immediately checked to see if he had swallowed his tongue.”
Kone’s experience in that situation, knowing to check to see if Berkovec had swallowed his tongue helped avoid a scary collision of teammates from turning into something far more tragic.
(h/t Complex Sports)
