GB Boxing doctor and physiotherapist save Uzbek coach Tulkin Kilichev’s life after cardiac arrest
Paris, France. 08th Aug, 2024. Billal Bennama (FRA) Silver medal, Hasanboy Dusmatov (UZB) Gold medal, David de Pina (CPV) Bronze medal, Junior Alcantara Reyes (DOM) Bronze medal, Boxing, Men’s 51kg during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on 8 August 2024 at Roland-Garros Stadium in Paris, France – Photo Frederic Chambert/Panoramic/DPPI Media Credit: DPPI Media/Alamy Live News
Contributor: DPPI Media / Alamy Stock Photo
GB Boxing doctor Harj Singh and physio Robbie Lillis were the first to respond when Uzbek boxing coach Tulkin Kilichev collapsed with a cardiac arrest while celebrating flyweight Hasanboy Dusmatov’s Olympic gold medal triumph at Roland Garros; Kilichev is now understood to be stable.
Two members of GB Boxing’s medical staff stepped in to save an Uzbek boxing coach’s life after an Olympics fight on Thursday.
Coach Tulkin Kilichev suffered a cardiac arrest at Roland Garros after Uzbek star Hasanboy Dusmatov’s gold medal victory.
GB Boxing doctor Harj Singh and physio Robbie Lillis were also in the warm-up area where Kilichev collapsed and rushed to tend to him with Singh performing CPR and Lillis using a defibrillator.
“Initially he didn’t come back but, about 20 to 30 seconds later, after Harj continued doing CPR, all of a sudden he came back conscious with us, which was great.”
Singh and Lillis then handed over to the medical team from the venue, who arrived a few minutes later, and Kilichev was taken to hospital, where he is understood to be in a stable condition.
“Hopefully he does make a full recovery,” added Lillis. “Speed is the essence of it. I’m very, very thankful that we did have all the equipment on us, and myself and Harj being there and being trained.
“It’s definitely not my day-to-day job, and I wouldn’t like to make a routine of doing it, but thankfully having had the training I was able to carry that out.”
Team GB medical staff all do regular training at the UK Sports Institute, including a pitch-side trauma course to prepare them for such an eventuality.
Lillis admitted he did not sleep at all on Thursday night following the incident.
“It was obviously a bit of a rush of adrenaline at that time kind of managing the situation,” he said. “I’m obviously grateful to be able to play a part in hopefully helping someone survive.
“My mum said a really nice thing, she said, ‘That’s your Olympic moment’. It’s something obviously I’ll definitely remember, I don’t think I’m going to be forgetting that any time soon.”
Singh has more experience of treating cardiac arrests, although normally in a hospital setting. He is hoping that he and Lillis will be able to visit Kilichev.
“It puts things into perspective,” said Singh. “Everything happened so quickly. At some stage we will endeavour to go to the hospital. If it could be arranged, I think that would be quite emotional for both of us.”