A footballer was saved by the kiss of life after being knocked unconscious during a Boxing Day match.

Bradford Park Avenue's goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel stopped breathing three times after a collision in the UniBond side's game against Harrogate Town yesterday.

But club physio Ray Killick saved his life by giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, pictured, on the pitch in front of nearly 500 spectators at the non-league match.

The former German youth international was rushed to hospital after the incident in the first-half of the game, which was eventually abandoned at 2-1 to Avenue.

He was recovering at home last night after x-rays at the Bradford Royal Infirmary showed that he had not broken his sternum or punctured his lung as feared.

"It was the most scary thing," said Mr Pfannenstiel, 29, a former Bayern Munich goalkeeper who has played all over the world.

"I felt like I had been stabbed, I remember going for the ball and then waking up in an ambulance.

"I am sorry for the others that the game was not finished because we were winning. I want to be back to help us win when they re-arrange the game.

"I will call Ray and thank him for saving my life."

Mr Killick, who is a qualified lecturer with the Football Association on emergency first-aid, said he was just doing his job.

"All I thought about was keeping him breathing until the ambulance arrived," said Mr Killick, who admitted it was the first time he had used mouth-to-mouth in a match.

"He stopped breathing about three times and he seemed to be going in and out of consciousness."

Mr Pfannenstiel was injured making a save at the feet of Clayton Donaldson, getting a knee in his chest blocking the Harrogate striker.

The visiting side scored from the lost ball with Mr Pfannenstiel left lying on the ground before the physio, manager and the player's seven-months pregnant wife Nita and mother-in-law Margaret Gledhill came on the pitch.

After more than half-an-hour referee John Moss abandoned the game, he said: "I discussed with the other officials and the managers before deciding to abandon the match.

"The decision was taken for a number of reasons including the seriousness of the injury and the effect it would have on the players."

Manager Trevor Storton visited his player in hospital after the game and the former Liverpool player admitted it was the most horrific injury he had seen in football.

"His eyes were rolling and he just stopped breathing," said Mr Storton after the match.

"It was a very frightening thing. We talked to the players and it was decided it wasn't right to go on.

"Obviously I'm pleased that the lad is okay now, Ray did a great job."

Mr Pfannenstiel is expected to return to action within the month and the match will be replayed, with free admission, in the New Year.

Earlier this month he had to be substituted during a match after he accidentally took an overdose of flu remedies leaving him with double vision.