Tributes have been pouring in today following the tragic news that 26-year-old football player Daniel Wilkinson died at Calderdale Royal Hospital last night after a match against Brighouse Town FC at their home ground on St Giles Road.
Daniel, 26, had been playing with his team Shaw Lane Aquaforce, who are based in Barnsley, and were winning 2-0 when he appeared to stop breathing and collapsed.
Bystanders initially thought he had collapsed from diabetes and ran to the clubhouse to get chocolate, but soon realised he was suffering a suspected cardiac arrest.
An on-site defibrillator was used and medics administered CPR on the site of the grounds. Daniel, who works full-time as an accountant in Sheffield and has played for Hull City FC, was taken to Calderdale Royal Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
This page is for tributes being paid to Daniel.
Read the full report and more about Daniel on our story here.
If you knew Daniel or were at the game last night, feel free to get in touch at editorial@examiner.co.uk or ring our newsdesk on 01484 437765. You can also tweet us @Examiner.
Staff "did everything possible"
More words from Shaw Lane chairman Craig Woods on the terrible events last night:
“Support staff from both sides raced onto the pitch and did everything possible to try and help Dan. There was a defibrillator on site which was bought onto the pitch, I can’t praise them enough, you can’t prepare for something like this.”
Statement from Daniel's university
A statement from the SU Pesident at Daniel’s former University, Loughborough, has released a statement following the news.
Jonathon Ako said: “Today we were told of the very sad news that one of our recent Graduates Danny Wilkinson passed away. Danny was a member of the Loughborough family playing football for the Student team and being loved by so many of his friends and the staff here at the University. Reading some of the comments on twitter (see #RIPWilks) you can see just how highly thought of he was.
Losing a member of our student community is heartbreaking, especially one so young and far too early. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Danny at this truly devastating time.
We are immensely proud and humbled to have had such an amazing and talented young man as a part of our Loughborough family.”
Defibrillator campaigner pays condolences
We’ve been speaking with Lee Orton this afternoon - Lee survived a heart attack while playing with Aimbry in Huddersfield in 2011 and campaigned to supply Brighouse Town with the debrillator used on Daniel last night.
Lee, 33, who runs Goals 4 Hearts who supply clubs and schools with the life-saving devices, said: “My thoughts and condolences are with Daniel’s family, friends and the club today.
“You never know these things are going to happen until they do, that’s why it’s always so important to be prepared.”
"Minute's silence" from old team mates
Another heartfelt tribute from one of Daniel’s former teams:
Hull City FC release statement
Hull City FC have released a statement in tribute to Daniel.
The club, who Daniel signed to in 2010 as a junior, said: “We were both shocked and saddened to learn of the death of former player Daniel Wilkinson on Monday night.
“Daniel, who was a former player in our Centre of Excellence and was part of the U18s team that won the Youth Alliance North East Conference in 2010, died after collapsing on the pitch whilst playing for Evo-Stick First Division South side Shaw Lane AFC.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Daniel’s family at this incredibly difficult time, along with his friends and everybody at Shaw Lane AFC.”
Tributes from local teams
Many from local non league football teams have expressed their sadness and shock over the news about Daniel.
Newsome and Kirkheaton have tweeted their tributes.
One Facebook user has described how non league teams across the country have been “united in grief” over the news.
Hundreds pay tribute to Daniel Wilkinson
Tributes have been pouring in today following the tragic news that 26-year-old football player Daniel Wilkinson died at Calderdale Royal Hospital last night after a match against Brighouse Town FC at their home ground on St Giles Road.
You can read the full story of what happened at the match last night here.
This blog is for the hundreds of warm and moving tributes being paid to Daniel today as the tragic news of his passing breaks, which have been coming in from far and wide.
The Examiner is profoundly sorry to hear of what happened and our thoughts are with Daniel’s family, friends, team mates and everyone at Shaw Lane AFC today.
Did you know Daniel or were you at the match last night? Do not hesitate to get in touch on 01484 437765, or email us at editorial@examiner.co.uk or tweet us @Examiner.