Atletico Madrid right-back Sime Vrsaljko has played down his role in "saving" Fernando Torres when the striker was knocked unconscious during a recent La Liga game, saying that anybody would do the same when they saw a friend in such danger.
When Torres was knocked out cold during a collision with Deportivo La Coruna's Alex Bergantinos during a 1-1 draw at Riazor on March 2, Vrsaljko was quickly on the scene, along with club captain Gabi, to ensure that their teammate did not swallow his tongue and was able to breathe freely.
Depor doctor Carlos Lariño on @partidazocope "What Gabi & Vrsaljko did [in helping Torres regain consciousness] was perfect." pic.twitter.com/xPmMz6BmQV
- Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) March 2, 2017
Doctors then administered emergency treatment before Torres, 32, was rushed to hospital where he spent a night under observation. The former Spain striker appears to have suffered no serious problems from the incident, and is expected to return to the Atletico squad for Wednesday's Champions League round-of-16 second leg at home to Bayer Leverkusen.
Vrsaljko's calm and expert response to the emergency situation was praised immediately by medical staff who were at the stadium, and he has been held up as a "hero" by his fellow countrymen in Croatia.
Speaking to AS, the 25-year-old was asked if he felt like a hero for having potentially saved Torres' life with his quick thinking and calm behaviour.
"I do not feel that way," Vrsaljko said. "When you see a friend down on the ground like that, in a bad way, you have to help them. So I reacted as I did, and I'm happy about it. Fernando is doing well and that is the most important of all."
Vrsaljko said that he had never been involved in any similar situation before, but had known that the most important thing was to ensure that Torres was able to breathe, while adding that the most important medical work had been done by the professionals who were quickly on the scene.
"It is the first time I did anything like that," he said. "But I had heard many times that you must make sure that the person is able to breathe, to stop his tongue blocking it, to get it out.
"That was the first thing I thought I had to do. I knew what to do. But it is more about the whole team. The doctors did a great job, I just did a small thing for my teammate."