Cameroonian soccer player Patrick Ekeng died after collapsing on the field Friday while playing for Romania team Dinamo Bucharest, according to Sky News.
The video of his collapse can be seen below (warning: may be disturbing to view).
The 26-year-old defensive midfielder fell to the ground without any contact with another player just seven minutes after coming on as a substitute during a league game against Viitorul Constanta. According to local media, he is said to have suffered a heart attack, as he fell to the ground on 69 minutes in a match against Viitorul. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital two hours later. A spokesperson for the hospital said the cause of death was unknown, per the report.
Ekeng had been capped with the Cameroon national team and had also played for clubs Cordoba, Lausanne and Le Mans.
Fellow Cameroonian Marc-Vivien Foe died on the pitch in 2003 while playing for the national team against Colombia at the 2003 Confederations Cup.
Ekeng, who joined the Romanian club in January, was rushed to hospital where staff were unable to resuscitate him.
“Resuscitation attempts were made for an hour and half without success,” Dinamo team doctor Liviu Paltinean told journalists.
Fans of the Bucharest club gathered outside the hospital late into the night to express their grief at the player’s death.
“I can’t believe it. It’s a nightmare. For me, for the team and for all Dinamo supporters. It’s too much,” said club executive director and former player Ionel Danciulescu.
In 2003, Cameroon international midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe died after collapsing during a Confederations Cup match against Colombia in France.
Ekeng is survived by a wife and daughter.
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