AT precisely 10.54pm on Saturday, September 21, 1991 my eldest daughter Joanna and I sat in horror at the ringside at White Hart Lane as Michael Watson just slumped to the canvas.

It was in the 11th round of the WBO middleweight fight against Chris Eubank.

He had suffered a massive brain haemorrhage and the scenes of panic in his corner were horrendous. No one knew what to do.

Last Saturday it was an eerie case of deja vu as Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed in an FA Cup tie against Spurs ironically also at White Hart Lane. He had suffered cardiac arrest. All the memories came flooding back.

Young Fabrice is now showing encouraging signs of recovery. Thank God for that.

There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that his life was saved by immediate, specialist medical attention on the pitch. Thank God for that, too.

But for poor Michael Watson there was no emergency rescusitation and only an ill-equipped ambulance service.

Fabrice was taken immediately to the specialist London Chest Clinic for expert treatment.

When Michael arrived at the North Middlesex Hospital at exactly 11.22pm 21 years ago it was discovered that there was no specialist head trauma facilities available and he was switched to Barts where Dr Peter Hamlyn revealed: “Michael was closer to death than anybody I have ever operated on.”

The parallel stories of these two young athletes in the prime of life reveals how dramatically medical facilities and attitudes have changed since the Michael Watson tragedy. And about time too.

Michael endured six operations and defied medical history by surviving to tell his tale albeit in slurred speech and often from the wheelchair. And to successfully sue the British Boxing Board of Control for negligence. He was awarded £1 million in damages. Small consolation for a life ruined.

I am very proud to say that I was very closely involved in the early rehabilitation of this charming, hugely-talented fighter from Islington in North London, home of his beloved Arsenal where he was a season-ticket holder.

Using my then lofty position as sports editor of a national daily newspaper I was able to persuade Arsenal’s David Dein and Ken Friar to host a special benefit day for Michael at Highbury.

It proved to be a staggering success with a host of pop bands getting a bumper 28,000 crowd rockin’ and rollin’ and Arsenal old boys playing against each other.

It was one of the highlights of my career. Particularly so when I saw the look of appreciation in Michael’s eyes. The proceeds went some way to helping him fund a new lifestyle.

So much so that in 2003 he competed in the London Marathon – each mile taking an hour and he covered the course and distance in six days. Truly heroic stuff.

In 2004 he was awarded the MBE for Services to Disabled Sport, to which he has devoted his life.

Martin of South West Foods Ltd speaks for everybody here in Weymouth and Portland when he says: “Let us just pray that Fabrice Muamba makes a full recovery to lead some sort of normal life.

“My wife is a Spurs fan and the family had a fabulous day watching the rugby before the footie. My daughter fell in love with Leigh Halfpenny of Wales and everbody was so happy “Then came the tragedy at the Lane. It left us all feeling numb.”

Get well soon, Fabrice.