Wednesday, November 14, 2007

22-Year-Old Spanish Soccer Star Dies of Heart Attack


Antonio Puerta, midfielder for the Spanish fútbol league Sevilla and one of the team's most promising stars, died on Tuesday, three days after collapsing during a match. The 22-year-old has been in critical condition since suffering a heart attack on Saturday. What's worse, Puerta was a first-time father-to-be: his baby is due in just six weeks.
Puerta collapsed after jogging back towards his goal 35 minutes into Saturday's game. Medical staff revived him and he was able to walk, but then collapsed again in the changing rooms and had to be rescucitated before being taken to the hospital, where he died three days later.
Sevilla said that Puerta's body would be taken to the club's Sanchez Pizjuan stadium so that fans could pay their respects before he is buried.

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