Tony Butterfield heart attack: Newcastle Knights great

Newcastle great Tony Butterfield had to be revived by a defibrillator — "and a couple of angels" — after suffering a major heart attack in an Old Boys Oz Tag game on Saturday.

Speaking with The Daily Telegraph from John Hunter hospital, Butterfield admits he "dodged a bullet" after going into cardiac arrest in the dressing rooms of No. 2 Sportsground following a charity match to raise funds for the Mark Hughes Foundation.

The 1997 premiership hero, now aged 53, recalled singing the Knights team song before twice throwing up and then, soon after, going unconscious.

The retired prop said he owed his life to the small group of "angels" who worked so hard to revive him via CPR — including two paramedics, doctor Colinda Holmes and registered nurse Rachael Paton, who was in the crowd as the partner of fellow retired Knight, Daniel Abraham.

Tony Butterfield survived a massive heart attack over the weekend. "Apparently I went into cardiac arrest and all the boys were all freaking out," Butterfield said late Sunday from his hospital bed. "I remember being in the sheds after the games talking, then having a couple of big spews and that was it.

Tony Butterfield is counting his lucky stars. Picture: Peter Lorimer "I was fully conscious right up until the point I wasn't.

"Everything just went dark.

"(Laughs) It was like what Kerry Packer said about going to the other side: There's nothing there.

"I'm told they had to use the defibrillator … they zapped me once and I came back."

Suffering a small blockage to his heart, Butterfield was then rushed to emergency and underwent surgery to have a stent put in. He will now remain in hospital for another three or four days.

Organised by the Mark Hughes Foundation, the Oz-Tag game was played as a curtain-raiser to the third annual Newcastle All Stars clash, involving players from the local first grade competition.

Dr Holmes, who was on sidelines for said clash, went immediately into the sheds when Butterfield started vomiting. Paramedics were then called and had arrived before the retired prop suffered his heart attack.

Hughes was among a small group of players still in the sheds when his old teammate was being revived.

"Absolutely horrific," he said. "We were in the sheds after the game and Buttsy just went white.

"I couldn't tell you how long he was out for — I lost track with everything that was going on — but it felt like the longest time.

"There was a point there I actually felt we'd lost him.

"I know it's athletes who are regarded by so many as heroes but Saturday afternoon I saw four or so real heroes in action.

"And I know Buttsy agrees.

"We're all just so grateful we can now talk about him coming through rather than something far worse."

Butterfield continued: "I really dodged a bullet.

"The doctors have actually said that, if not Saturday, it would've happened some time down the track.

"It could've happened when I was at home mowing the lawn when there were no medical staff around. I'm just thanking God I had the angels there that helped.

"I've got a beautiful wife, wonderful kids … I'm just very grateful."

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