AliousTomas Soucek, a West Ham player, described rescuing a Crystal Palace ball boy from being crushed as more rewarding than scoring in West Ham’s 2-0 victory, which marked Julen Lopetegui’s first win as manager.
Soucek’s 67th-minute goal triggered enthusiastic celebrations among West Ham fans, causing an advertising board to collapse and trap a ball boy.
Soucek quickly lifted the board, while teammate Jarrod Bowen helped pull the young boy to safety.
The shaken ball boy was then attended to by medical staff and confirmed to be unharmed.
Soucek explained that despite his joy at scoring, he immediately prioritized the boy’s safety when he saw the dangerous situation.
He expressed relief at being able to help and stated that saving the boy felt even better than scoring the goal.
Bowen, who scored West Ham’s second goal shortly after, also assisted in rescuing the ball boy.
He described his actions as instinctive and mentioned sharing a moment with the boy after the game, gifting him his jersey.
The incident showcased the players’ quick thinking and concern for safety, even in the midst of a crucial match.
Their actions demonstrated that player responsibilities extend beyond the game itself, highlighting the importance of awareness and readiness to help in unexpected situations.
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