Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golder’s News And Sport

This athlete and former footballer has tragically died of cardiac arrest during a race up a mountain in Spain.

Kike Monforte, 49, died of sudden cardiac arrest whilst participating in the ‘Top of the Rock’ race held the in Les Useres area of the Castellon province in Spain which sees participants race for 120 kilometres (75 miles) in the mountains over three stages.

Local media report Monforte, who played football for sides such as fourth-tier CD Acero, suffered cardiac arrest at 9:10 am on Saturday morning 1.5 kilometres into the second stage.

Monforte, who belonged to the Castello Running Club, reportedly fell to the ground among other runners and was unconscious.

The emergency services were called and a helicopter was sent to the scene. Paramedics gave medical assistance to the runner and tried to reanimate him for 80 minutes before declaring him dead at the scene.

Local media report Monforte often participated in similar events and was a member of Castellon’s marathon group.

His sister Sara Monforte, who is a coach of the women’s teams at Villarreal, wrote online: “My mentor, he made me get started in football, to fight for what I love. I’ve never met anyone who gave off so much energy and light, an example for everyone.

“You leave a huge gap, a part of me I will never be able to get back, but I will fight to move forwards, to smile as you would like. I will look at the mountains every day to remember you in them. You will always be in me, brother.”

Monforte had also played for Vall d’Uxo and Vinaros during his footballing career.

The third stage of the race reportedly went ahead with a minute’s silence held before the start.

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