The pregnant wife of Park Avenue goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel - who nearly died during Boxing Day's match with Harrogate Town - has spoken of her shock at the incident.

Anita Pfannenstiel, who is seven-months pregnant, watched in horror as her husband was given the kiss of life.

The 29-year-old former Bayern Munich goalkeeper was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the pitch by club physio Ray Killick after he stopped breathing three times following a collision in which he was kicked in the sternum.

He was rushed to Bradford Royal Infirmary and is now recovering at home in Shipley.

The match was abandoned at 2-1 to Avenue after the incident in the first half.

Mr Pfannenstiel's wife, who was watching the match with her mother Margaret Gledhill, said she could not believe what was happening.

"When he got hit and then he did not stand up I knew he was not conscious - Lutz is not the type to stay on the floor," she said.

The 32-year-old said she asked her mother to go and check on her husband and was upset when Harrogate supporters shouted comments about this.

Mrs Pfannenstiel was then comforted by club officials before rushing to her injured husband's side.

"I went on to the pitch and I kept telling him to stay awake. His eyes were just rolling.

"Because I knew he was unconscious and I could see Ray doing mouth-to-mouth, I kept shouting 'are you sure he's alive?'"

She went to hospital with Mr Pfannenstiel, where he was given X-rays and tests.

He has been told he could have a hairline fracture to his sternum and is being monitored by doctors.

And after the event, the reality of what happened has begun to set in.

"I just cannot believe it. I was looking at the photographs in the Telegraph & Argus and it's just like a nightmare."

She said she stayed awake throughout the night after the incident to make sure her husband was alright.

The couple were married in August and their first baby is due on February 14 - Valentine's Day.

Mr Pfannenstiel said he felt ok when he returned from hospital, but worse the following morning as the painkillers wore off. Doctors have told him it will take a few days for his lungs to reinflate after being completely empty.

He has been told not to do any exercise for ten days.

He said he was glad he couldn't remember anything about the incident so it wouldn't haunt him when he returned to playing.

"I tried to stand up and then I felt this pain in my chest and I didn't know anything at all.

"I saw these two ladies in green, the paramedics, and I thought at first 'I am on a different planet, they are all green'.

"I could not speak because of the shortage of breath.

"I am quite happy I did not feel anything or realise what happened."

Mother-in-law Margaret Gledhill said: "Everyone was fantastic and really helped him. They saved his life and Lutz is a very lucky boy but obviously he is quite shaken by the whole thing."