A potentially harrowing scene in the Ukrainian match between Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Dynamo Kiev turned heroic when Jaba Kankava saved Dynamo captain Oleg Gusev's life.
Ukrainian international Gusev received an inadvertent knee to the head by the Dnipro goalkeeper and sickeningly thudded to the ground, swallowing his tongue and falling unconscious.
However, Dnipro midfielder Jaba Kankava immediately realised Gusev's life was in jeopardy and rushed over to his opponent to remove his tongue from blocking his airwaves.
Kankava moves Gusev's tongue from blocking his airwaves
As soon as Kankava moved the tongue, Gusev jolted to consciousness, coughing and kicking violently. He was seen standing by the touchline after he was substituted, although there is no update on his condition at the time of writing.
Chelsea captain John Terry swallowed his tongue during the 2007 League Cup final following an accidental kick from Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby.
Arsenal physio Gary Lewin, who rushed to treat Terry, almost had to break David Rocastle's jaw to perform the same life-saving treatment in 1989.
Terry swallows his tongue
Soccer - Carling Cup - Final - Chelsea v Arsenal - Millennium Stadium(01 of20)
Chelsea's John Terry goes down after a collision with Arsenal's Vassiriki Diaby (credit:PA)
Soccer - Carling Cup - Final - Chelsea v Arsenal - Millennium Stadium(02 of20)
Chelsea's John Terry collides with the boot of Arsenal's Vassiriki Diaby (credit:PA)
Carling Cup Final: Chelsea v Arsenal(03 of20)
CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 25: John Terry of Chelsea is kicked in the head and subsequently injured, by Abou Diaby of Arsenal during the Carling Cup Final match between Chelsea and Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium on February 25, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-ENG-CHELSEA-ARSENAL(04 of20)
Arsenal's French midfielder Abou Diaby kicks Chelsea's english defender John Terry in the head during the English League Cup Final football match against Chelsea at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, 25 February 2007. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to a subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 2981656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no license is necessary. (credit:Getty Images)
Carling Cup Final: Chelsea v Arsenal(05 of20)
CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 25: John Terry of Chelsea receives treatment for a head injury during the Carling Cup Final match between Chelsea and Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium on February 25, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carling Cup Final: Chelsea v Arsenal(06 of20)
CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 25: The players surround John Terry of Chelsea as he lies injured during the Carling Cup Final match between Chelsea and Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium on February 25, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carling Cup Final: Chelsea v Arsenal(07 of20)
CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 25: John Terry of Chelsea is stretchered from the pitch during the Carling Cup Final match between Chelsea and Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium on February 25, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carling Cup Final: Chelsea v Arsenal(08 of20)
CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 25: John Terry of Chelsea is stretchered from the pitch during the Carling Cup Final match between Chelsea and Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium on February 25, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carling Cup Final: Chelsea v Arsenal(09 of20)
CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 25: The Arsenal players call for urgent medical attention for John Terry of Chelsea as he lies injured during the Carling Cup Final match between Chelsea and Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium on February 25, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carling Cup Final: Chelsea v Arsenal(10 of20)
CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 25: John Terry of Chelsea receives treatment for a head injury during the Carling Cup Final match between Chelsea and Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium on February 25, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea's English defender John Terry li(11 of20)
CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM: Chelsea's English defender John Terry lies on the ground in the goalmouth after being kicked in the head during a tackle by Arsenal's French midfielder Abou Diaby during the English League Cup Final football match against Chelsea at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, 25 February 2007. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to a subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 2981656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no license is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea's English defender John Terry li(12 of20)
CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM: Chelsea's English defender John Terry lies on the ground in the goalmouth after being kicked in the head during a tackle by Arsenal's French midfielder Abou Diaby during the English League Cup Final football match against Chelsea at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, 25 February 2007. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to a subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 2981656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no license is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea's English defender John Terry li(13 of20)
Cardiff, UNITED KINGDOM: Chelsea's English defender John Terry lies on the ground in the goalmouth after being kicked in the head during a tackle by Arsenal's French midfielder Abou Diaby during the English League Cup Final football match against Chelsea at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, 25 February 2007. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to a subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 2981656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no license is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea's John Terry lies injured in the(14 of20)
Cardiff, UNITED KINGDOM: Chelsea's John Terry lies injured in the goalmouth during the English League Cup Final football match against Arsenal at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, 25 February 2007. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to a subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 2981656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no license is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea's English defender John Terry li(15 of20)
Cardiff, UNITED KINGDOM: Chelsea's English defender John Terry lies on the ground in the goalmouth after being kicked in the head during a tackle by Arsenal's French midfielder Abou Diaby during the English League Cup Final football match against Chelsea at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, 25 February 2007. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to a subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 2981656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no license is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal's French midfielder Abou Diaby k(16 of20)
Cardiff, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal's French midfielder Abou Diaby kicks Chelsea's english defender John Terry in the head during the English League Cup Final football match against Chelsea at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, 25 February 2007. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to a subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 2981656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no license is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea's John Terry lies injured in the(17 of20)
CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM: Chelsea's John Terry lies injured in the goalmouth during the English League Cup Final football match against Arsenal at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, 25 February 2007. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to a subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 2981656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no license is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea's English defender John Terry li(18 of20)
Cardiff, UNITED KINGDOM: Chelsea's English defender John Terry lies on the ground in the goalmouth after being kicked in the head during a tackle by Arsenal's French midfielder Abou Diaby during the English League Cup Final football match against Chelsea at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, 25 February 2007. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to a subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 2981656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no license is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea's English defender John Terry li(19 of20)
CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM: Chelsea's English defender John Terry lies on the ground in the goalmouth after being kicked in the head during a tackle by Arsenal's French midfielder Abou Diaby during the English League Cup Final football match against Chelsea at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, 25 February 2007. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to a subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 2981656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no license is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal's French midfielder Abou Diaby k(20 of20)
CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal's French midfielder Abou Diaby kicks Chelsea's english defender John Terry in the head during the English League Cup Final football match against Chelsea at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, 25 February 2007. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to a subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 2981656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no license is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)