PSG's Aurier hailed as a 'hero' after saving Mali player's life

Moussa Doumbia's life was in danger during Saturday's World Cup qualifier between Mali and the Ivory Coast until Serge Aurier intervened.

The chilling incident occurred after Doumbia took a heavy blow to the back of his head from Sunderland's Lamine Kone as he attempted to register an attempt on the Ivory Coast net.

The Mali forward was knocked unconscious.

As players appealed to the match official, Aurier noticed Doumbia was in distress and instinctively prevented the 22-year-old from swallowing his own tongue.

"All the players realized that Doumbia was choking and was about to swallow his tongue," Mali's manager Alain Giresse said in an interview with French radio, as translated by NBC Sports.

"That's when Aurier, with one of our players, quickly put him on his side and pulled out his tongue, because he was about to lose his life."

(Courtesy: EugeneNK)

However, after being hailed as a hero, the Paris Saint-Germain defender came under criticism later in the encounter when he performed a throat-slashing celebration after scoring.

Related - Watch: PSG's Aurier in hot water over Ivory Coast throat-slit gesture