The League One match between Bolton and Cheltenham was abandoned on Saturday after a supporter suffered a suspected cardiac arrest and needed lengthy treatment in the stands.
Play was halted at 0-0 in the 29th minute when medical personnel were alerted to the situation in the East Stand. The referee, Sunny Singh Gill, stopped the match and took the players off the pitch.
Fans vacated the surrounding area to allow those carrying out CPR to do their jobs. After 20 minutes of treatment on the stairs, the person receiving treatment was taken down to pitch level on a stretcher and carried behind a makeshift screen to the stadium’s first aid room and was then transferred to hospital by ambulance.
Bolton were denied the chance to take over at the summit after leaders Portsmouth were stunned at home to Leyton Orient.
Orient ran out 3-0 winners after a scintillating first-half at Fratton Park where Shaq Forde, Jordan Brown and Daniel Ageyi were on target.
Sol Brynn also saved Colby Bishop's 40th-minute penalty to compound a miserable afternoon for John Mousinho's team.
Peterborough moved up to second after a brace by Ephron Mason-Clark earned a 2-1 victory away to Charlton. Mason-Clark broke the deadlock and although Alfie May levelled for the hosts, the Posh number 10 claimed all three points with a fine low finish, 15 minutes from time.
Mark Harris' double earned fifth-placed Oxford a 3-1 win at Carlisle with Tyler Goodrham also in the goals for Des Buckingham's promotion-chasing side.
Barnsley edged out Bristol Rovers by a 2-1 score after Devante Cole and Corey O'Keeffe found the net to stay ahead of Stevenage, who remain seventh despite a 1-0 victory at Shrewsbury thanks to Jamie Reid's 84th-minute effort.
Fleetwood stay bottom after a 2-1 loss at Cambridge where Sullay Kaikai struck a last-minute winner.
Elsewhere, Albie Morgan scored twice to earn Blackpool a 2-0 win over Exeter as Northampton and Wigan played out a 1-1 draw at Sixfields.
Lincoln earned a point at Wycombe after Ethan Erhahon grabbed an equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
After consultation between the two managers, clubs and match officials, it was decided the match should be abandoned half an hour after play was halted with the fan still in a “critical condition”. The announcement that the match would not continue was greeted with a round of applause by those in attendance. Bolton posted on X: “Due to a medical emergency in the crowd, today’s game has been postponed. Our thoughts are with the family concerned.”
Wrexham moved up to second in League Two after a 2-0 win over Wimbledon, but Stockport remain out in front after they beat Walsall.
Akil Wright, Isaac Olaofe and Paddy Madden fired leaders Stockport to a 16th league success of the campaign with Douglas James-Taylor's goal a mere consolation for Walsall in a 3-1 loss.
Phil Parkinson's Wrexham leapfrogged Mansfield after second-half efforts by Steven Fletcher and Paul Mullin. Mansfield dropped points after being held to a 1-1 draw by hosts Morecambe, who claimed a share of the spoils when Charlie Brown netted with 12 minutes left.
Fourth-placed Barrow also lost ground on Stockport after a 2-2 draw at Sutton. New Sutton boss Steve Morison watched Harry Beautyman's brace earn them a point, which moved them off the bottom.
Forest Green are now 24th after Troy Deeney's 10-men lost 2-0 at home to Harrogate.
New boss Danny Cowley watched Colchester earn a point in his first home match after Tom Hopper cancelled out Andy Cook's opener for Bradford, while 20th-placed Grimsby and Notts County shared 10 goals in a thrilling draw.
David McGoldrick looked to be the hero for County with a brace - which included a 92nd-minute effort - but Harry Wood produced a leveller for hosts Grimsby, three minutes later in a remarkable 5-5 scoreline.
Crewe and MK Dons complete the top six after 2-1 wins over Swindon and Tranmere respectively, while Gillingham are eighth after Macauley Bonne hit a 75th-minute winner at Accrington. Newport and Salford also toasted 1-0 wins at Doncaster and Crawley respectively.
A subsequent club statement said: “The supporter was taken to hospital and the thoughts of everyone at Bolton Wanderers are with him and his family. An update on the supporter’s condition will follow. Details regarding a new date and ticket refunds/arrangements for the fixture will be released in due course.”
It is the second time this season a League One match has needed to be called off for this reason. Leyton Orient v Lincoln was abandoned after 82 minutes when a supporter needed CPR in the stands. Fans ran on to the pitch to ensure the match was stopped in order to get treatment for the person in the stands.
