BRUSSELS: Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens has died after suffering heart attack during a football match on Monday.
24-year-old defender was playing for Lokeren’s reserve team against Genk when the tragic accident occurred. He had been in a coma since being rushed to hospital.
Mertens collapsed in the first-half of the match, with the stadium’s officials asking fans to leave immediately, and his team-mates were seen praying on the sidelines and shouting messages of support while medics rushed to his aid.
He was placed in an induced coma by medics at a Belgian hospital having received CPR on the pitch, but it was announced that Mertens had passed away on Thursday.
The club’s official Twitter account confirmed the news in a post issued on Thursday afternoon, which when translated to English read: “With sadness we announce the loss of Gregory Mertens. We wish family and friends all the strength.”
Mertens was born in the Belgian city of Anderlecht in February 1991, and he joined the famous club’s academy in 2004 before moving on to Dilbeek Sport, Gent and Cercle Brugge.
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