Ex-Dartford footballer Ali Reith celebrated his incredible recovery from an induced coma with a belated 16th birthday party at Princes Park.

The Welling United youngster collapsed on the Princes Park pitch during a pre-season friendly against Dartford on August 30.

He was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by Darts manager Tony Burman in front of horrified crowds, including the boy’s parents.

He spent three days in a coma and missed his birthday on September 1 before waking a day later.

Officials from both clubs, as well as family and friends, were present at the party, with Darts youth development coach Phil Murray paying a touching tribute to his former prodigy to kick off proceedings.

“These guys work so hard from such a young age these days, and the pressure is bigger than ever before. The harder they work, the bigger the threat is” - Ali's coach, Phil Murray

“Tonight is a celebration of the fact that we’re all able to say that we’re here together and that includes Ali,” he said.

“We’ve got our colleagues here from Welling United, who Ali was playing for on the day, but he’d been with our football club for 18 months up to that time and so for all of us it was really a poignant moment.”

Darts boss Tony Burman and Welling manager Loui Fazakerley were on hand to give Ali signed shirts and other memorabilia, and he also received a cheque for £50 from the Dartford Football Club Supporters Association.

“Of course I’m surprised by how many are here and all the reactions,” said Ali.

“I’m not really a party person, though!”

Ali’s mum Rashida was similarly overwhelmed with the number of people at the party, and thanked coach Phil for his support throughout her son’s ordeal.

“Phil has been absolutely brilliant from day one,” she said.

“I’m so surprised by everything here. We’ve had so many good wishes and so many birthday cards.”

Rashida revealed that Ali’s collapse was due to a cardiac arrest caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – the same heart condition responsible the collapse and subsequent retirement of Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba in 2012.

“When it happened he was taken straight away to King’s College Hospital in London, and was then transferred to the children’s ward at St Thomas’ Hospital, she said.

“All the nurses were absolutely brilliant and we really want to thank them and the doctors who helped Ali recover.”

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is extremely common in young athletes – Ali’s eight-year old brother Adam has already been tested for the condition – and coach Phil is wary of its threat.

“These guys work so hard from such a young age these days, and the pressure is bigger than ever before. The harder they work, the bigger the threat is,” he said.

Indeed, one of Ali’s final commitments during his playing time at Dartford was an intensive training camp in Valencia, Spain, testing his ability against youth sides from the likes of Barcelona.

Despite the trauma of the incident, and the fact that he remains on medication, Ali is determined to return to football.

“It hasn’t put him off, he wants to play again,” said Rashida.

“But at the moment he isn’t running and the doctors told us he shouldn’t take part in any contact sport.”

Ali’s resolve has already seen him fight back from the brink, so no one will be surprised if his determination sees him back on a football pitch again in the not too distant future.

For now, though, it’s a relief that he’s even on his feet.