MESSAGES of support are flooding in for teenage basketball star Sam Booth after the Caernarfon ace suffered a cardiac arrest during a game.

During the second quarter of Cheshire Phoenix U18s match at Mersey Mavericks on Saturday, the 16-year-old collapsed.

First aid was given and paramedics attended the scene before Sam was transferred to Broadgreen Hospital - home to the Liverpool heart and chest hospital, one of the UK's leading specialist heart units.

Booth had this season been drafted into the Phoenix first team squad to play in the new Super League Basketball pro league.

In a statement the Cheshire Phoenix said: "On Saturday, Phoenix player Sam Booth sustained a cardiac arrest during the second quarter of an U18s game in Liverpool.

"Sam was treated swiftly by those present and paramedics, before being transferred to Broadgreen hospital, where he is currently under the supervision of one of the leading heart specialists in the world.

"Huge thank you to the coaches, parents team managers and Mersey Mavs Basketball Club for the swift action taken.

"Our thoughts, prayers and well wishes are with Sam and his family at this time."

Afterwards senior player Skyler White - playing with the men's team in a friendly in Bristol, recorded a message for fans asking them to keep him in their thoughts.

"We're thinking about Sam...everybody please, give your thoughts and prayers to him. He's one of us, he's one of the family and we're missing him so everybody just please, think of him and his family." 

Last season Sam appeared in the North Wales Basketball Association U16s league for Caernarfon Dragons as well as playing for the Phoenix U16s and Wales U16s.

This summer he also travelled to Las Vegas to take part in the Impact Basketball camp with elite North Wales basketball coach Sion Parry's Swish Basketball Coaching. 

There have been hundreds of messages of support for Sam on social media since the game.

Phoenix head coach Ben Thomas simply wrote: "You’ve got this Sam", while his Phoenix senior teammates also wrote messages of support.

Mersey Mavericks posted: "Our thoughts are with everyone at Phoenix during this upsetting time. We wish Sam, his family and the wider Phoenix community all the best. We are thinking of you all and for Sam’s speedy recovery."

North Wales Basketball Association added: "The thoughts and best wishes of everyone involved in the North Wales Basketball Association are with Sam and his family at this time."

Caernarfon Dragons posted: "Everyone at the Dragons is thinking of you Sam and wishing you a speedy recovery."

Ynys Môn Celts Basketball Club said: "Our thoughts & prayers are with Sam and his family. An amazing person both on and off the court."