Sevilla footballer Antonio Puerta has died from the heart attacks suffered last Saturday

Sevilla footballer Antonio Puerta has died from the heart attacks suffered last Saturday
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By h.b. - Aug 28, 2007 - 4:55 PM

Sevilla player Antonio Puerta leaving the field on his own feet after his initial collapse on Saturday - Photo EFE

The player had collapsed on the pitch during the first match of the season against Getafe last Saturday

The Sevilla football player Antonio Puerta has died.

The 22 year old left winger fell to the ground on the pitch at the club on Saturday during the first half of the first league match of the season against Getafe.

Originally attended to there by team mates Palop and Drago, as well as team doctors, he left the field on his own feet, but collapsed shortly afterwards suffering as many as nine heart attacks. It was known on Saturday that his life had only been saved then by the presence of a defibrillation machine at the Sevilla club.

Since then he has been in a critical condition, sedated and on assisted breathing in the Virgen del Rocio Hospital in Sevilla, but his condition worsened overnight and the hospital gave the announcement of his death just after 4pm this afternoon.

The team meanwhile had arrived in Athens ahead of a Champions League match against AEK Athens, which has now been postponed until Monday. In turn the club’s second match of the season against Osasuna has also been postponed.

The Sevilla team, led by the club’s president , José María Del Nido, had already planned to return home tonight.

Antonio Puerta was born in the Sevilla district of Nervión, very close to the Sevilla stadium, Sánchez Pizuan. He’s famous with the fans of the club for scoring the goal which saw them classify for the UEFA cup final for the very first time last year.

Antonio Puerta leaves an 8 month pregnant wife in Sevilla.

Fans put up banners at the stadium in support of Antonio Puerta - 'Your goal changed our life - together we will fight for yours' - Photo EFE

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