FNL Southern footballer whose heart stopped for five minutes was lucky saved after first defibrillator failed at Keysborough-Skye game

All Jojo Amaah can remember is running for goals.

Between that moment and his next memory, his heart stopped beating for five minutes.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Investigation underway after shock incident that left young player fighting for his life.

Amaah’s second local football game for Keysborough in the Southern Football Netball League (SFNL) against Skye almost ended in tragedy after falling in an incident that happened behind the game.

“What happened, did you see that?” said a local commentator on the game’s live stream.

“I turned my head for half a second and a Keysborough player had been flattened.”

The local footballer had a seizure and went into cardiac arrest on the ground, resulting in horrifying scenes.

Rhiannon Smith, one of Keysborough’s coaches, was the first to react to the collapse and knew immediately she needed to start CPR.

“He just stopped breathing,” she told 7NEWS.

Soon realizing the seriousness of the situation, the referees called off play as paramedics rushed to the ground and “disheveled” players left the field.

But before paramedics could get to Amaah, 7NEWS has learned that a locked gate kept the ambulance off the field until another player broke through with his angle grinder.

“It’s a sight I’ve never seen; Ambulances and even a fire truck showed up,” the commentator said.

“Both sides left the pitch, Keysborough lads obviously very disheveled, tears – you can hear people crying.

“Just awful. One of those days when you go home and hug your loved ones.”

Without a pulse for more than five minutes, the odds against Amaah stood and the worst was feared.

And that was before the next cataclysmic turn of events.

Briesha Bormann, the emergency nurse who first arrived at Amaah, knew immediately that she needed a defibrillator to save his life – there was just one problem.

“I plugged in the Defib and tried to turn it on, but it wouldn’t turn on,” Bormann told 7NEWS.

Luckily there was a second AED on the ground.

“If they didn’t have that second defib, Jojo probably wouldn’t be here today,” Smith said.

Speaking exclusively to 7NEWS at Frankston Hospital, where he is recovering well from the life-threatening episode, Amaah was left speechless.

“I just remember running to the forward line, I think the ball came in, but the next thing I remember is all the paramedics around me,” he said.

Still in his hospital bed, he shared a touching moment with Bormann, who helped save his life.

“I’m just happy to be here. I owe my life to you and Ri and everyone else,” he said.

Smith said Amaah had a request after she regained consciousness.

“In true Jojo fashion, he said, ‘Can you get a picture of me?'” revealed Smith.

SFNL is investigating what happened behind the play that led to Amaah having a seizure and going into cardiac arrest.

Keysborough Football Netball Club President Manny Scata said the club has yet to find out all the facts.

“It looks like there was a hit to Jojo’s head… but we don’t have comment on that because we don’t know,” Scata told 7NEWS.

“We need to make sure that any issues that may have contributed to a not-so-great result are understood and plans are in place to deal with them.”

The league has three days to decide whether to refer the incident to the tribunal or even to the police.