A 20-year-old footballer who collapsed in the middle of a match was declared dead after a 30-minute battle on the pitch to revive him.
Rising star Ado Bala Hadi -from Nigeria – slumped and fell to the ground in the 39th minute of a home game for his club CD Madridejos, near Toledo, Spain.
Medics spent half an hour trying to revive the young player, who did not respond to the emergency treatment.
Local media quotes the club as saying: “CD Madridejos footballer Ado Bala Hadi, 20, died this Sunday [5th February] afternoon while playing the game against Sporting Cabanillas, at the Madridejos municipal field [Toledo].
“As reported by the 112 emergency and emergency service, the incident took place at 5:13 pm, when the player began to suffer seizures and 112 was notified, which activated a UVI, an emergency doctor and a life support ambulance, although the young man died on the field.”
According to Castilla-La Mancha football federation Hadi had “collapsed for no apparent reason”.
The club added in a statement a day after the death: “Totally devastated and broken with pain, the entire family that makes up the club, we want to thank all the expressions of affection and support received after the fatal misfortune experienced yesterday.
“Heartfelt thanks to all. Rest in Peace Hadi!”
Reports say Hadi did not suffer from any medical conditions before the match and appeared to be in a great physical shape.
The Castilla-La Mancha Football Federation issued a statement saying: “The Castilla-La Mancha Football Federation and Castilian-La Mancha football, with its President Pablo Burillo at the helm, are totally dismayed at such an event.
“For this reason, the federative body remains at the disposal of CD Madridejos for everything it needs in these difficult times.
Spanish league officials have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the death.
Nigerian professional football club Kano Pillars media officer Idris Malikawa revealed the late footballer was at Pillars for trials before he left the country.
Malikawa said: ”It is unfortunate that we have lost him and I pray that Allah should forgive him and grant him eternal rest.
“Before he left Nigeria, he came to Pillars from Jigawa and we even wanted to sign him before the Spain deal came for him.”