Supercigs founder and former Wolves director Kevin Threlfall collapses on golf course

The former Wolves director, who founded the Supercigs chain on Wolverhampton market and eventually sold it for £530m, collapsed and was saved by quick-thinking fellow players.

He was playing in a competition at South Staffordshire Golf Club in Wolverhampton.

Golfers Steve Woodward and Martin Knowles – both first aid trained former policemen – successfully battled to keep him alive with the help of golf club official Ian Guest.

They used their training and the club's defibrillator to save the life of Mr Threlfall, aged 64, during the critical 15 minutes before paramedics arrived at the course in Danescourt Road, Tettenhall.

The multi-millionaire, who was a director at Wolves from 2006 to 2008, was taken to New Cross Hospital, where he remains in intensive care undergoing tests today.

Friends said Mr Threlfall, who lives in Perton, regained consciousness yesterday morning.

Long-time friend and Wolves director John Gough today said: "He is conscious and talking to his wife. His life was undoubtedly saved by the actions of those three men. The emergency services were also brilliant.

"When Kevin went down, these three men were real heroes. If he had not had people around him it would have been very different."

Mr Gough, a fellow member of the golf club, added all members would now be trained in using the defibrillator.

Mr Threlfall was taken ill on the sixth tee while representing the South Staffs A team in a match against Moseley, who were captained by Mr Knowles, on Wednesday afternoon.

Wolves have also issued a statement sending their best wishes to Mr Threlfall, his wife Jill and children Jade and Nick.

Club chief executive Jez Moxey said: "Everyone at Wolves was shocked to learn of Kevin's illness. We ?wish him a speedy and full recovery and our thoughts are with him and his family at this difficult time."

Mr Threlfall started his business empire with a cigarette kiosk at Wolverhampton Market in 1975.

He made his millions when he sold his chain of more than 1,200 off-licences and convenience stores to Tesco for £530 million in 2002.