FOOTBALL commentating legend Peter Brackley is recovering in hospital after suffering a suspected heart attack.

The popular broadcaster was taking part in a Brighton and Hove Albion charity event on Wednesday night when he suddenly fell ill.

Bystanders used a defibrillator from a nearby parade of shops and also carried out CPR on Mr Brackley’s heart while waiting for ambulance crews to arrive.

Mr Brackley was yesterday in a stable condition at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

The club's charity, Albion in the Community, (AITC), is now planning to donate the proceeds from the event to help pay for a defibrillator for the venue.

The commentator, who is in his 60s, is best known for covering Football Italia on Channel 4 in the 1990s and formerly commentating for the computer game series Pro Evolution Soccer, and for Michael Owen's World League Soccer '99.

He has also been a familiar voice on BBC, ITV and Sky and worked at major competitions including the World Cup, European championships and the FA Cup.

Mr Brackley is a lifelong Brighton and Hove Albion fan and a supporter of AITC.

He had been interviewing former Albion players Guy Butters and Gary O’Reilly as part of a special AITC fundraiser at the Holbrook Club in North Heath Lane, Horsham.

Mr Brackley fell ill shortly before 7.30pm and was helped by people at the event as well as a community first responder.

These are trained volunteers who can give emergency first aid in their local area before ambulance crews arrive.

A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman said a team from the air ambulance also attended.

He said: “All crews worked together to resuscitate the man with the use of a defibrillator before he was taken as a priority to Royal Sussex County Hospital.

“We would also like to thank everyone who helped at the scene prior to our arrival in order to give the patient the best chance of survival.”

AITC chief executive Gary Townsend said: “Peter has always been very supportive of AITC and our work and had given up his time to compere our event to help raise money for our disability sport sessions.

“On behalf of everyone at AITC I would like to wish Peter a speedy recovery and thank all those who helped deliver first aid prior to the arrival of the paramedics, particularly the volunteer from First Responders.

“As a show of thanks to the staff at the Holbrook Club and the people who helped we are going to donate the proceeds from the event to help fund a defibrillator for the site.”