Thread: Spanish Defender dies.... at age 22!

Sevilla's Puerta dies in hospital

Spain international Antonio Puerta has died after suffering a heart attack in his club side Sevilla's 4-1 win against Getafe on Saturday.
Defender Puerta, 22, collapsed in the first-half and medics prevented him from swallowing his tongue.

But he collapsed again after going off and was given cardiac resuscitation before being taken to hospital.

He was placed in intensive care and doctors said on Tuesday his condition had deteriorated before his death.

Puerta collapsed after jogging back towards his own goal 35 minutes into the opening league game of the season at the Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday.

Team-mates and medical staff rushed to his side and were seen preventing him from swallowing his tongue as he lost consciousness.

He was able to walk from the pitch but doctors said that he collapsed again in the changing rooms and had to be given cardiac resuscitation before being taken to the Virgen del Rocio hospital.

Hospital director Gimeno Guerrero said Puerta died of "multiple organ failure, stemming from prolonged cardiac arrest."

Sevilla were due to play AEK Athens in the second leg of a third round Champions League qualifier on Tuesday but the match has been postponed until Monday 3 September.

As a consequence, the league match against Osasuna that was scheduled for next Monday has been postponed.

There will also be a minute's silence in tribute of Puerta before every La Liga match next weekend.

A league statement said: "The Professional Football League wishes to pass on its most sincere condolences to the family of Antonio Puerta.

"It has also declared the next day of league play to be one of official mourning and asked all its affiliated teams to observe a minute's silence before the games."

European football's governing body said: "UEFA and the entire football family extend their sympathy and sincere condolences to the family of Antonio Puerta."

BBC link

A terrible tragedy for such a young, talented man. I hope that the autopsy is able to help his family heal.

I was telling Smithy about this yesterday.................terrible really.

It sounds like there may have been a similar incident yesterday in the Carling Cup game between Leicester & Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest's Carling Cup tie at home to Leicester was abandoned at half-time after Foxes defender Clive Clarke collapsed in the dressing room.

Paramedics rushed down the tunnel to attend to the 27-year-old shortly after the half-time whistle.

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