BRAZILIAN footballer Alex Apolinario has died aged 24 after having a cardiac arrest and collapsing during a match on Sunday.
He was playing for Portuguese third tier side FC Alverca against Uniao de Almeirim when he lost consciousness and fell to the ground in the 27th minute of the game.
Alex Apolinario died on Thursday aged 24Credit: Getty Images – Getty
The footballer collapsed on the pitch on SundayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He was said to be stable on Sunday night.
But his club confirmed the tragic news of his death on Thursday.
A statement read: “It is with deep regret that we report, according to the information provided by the medical staff of the Vila Franca de Xira Hospital, the death by brain death of our athlete Alex Sandro dos Santos Apolinário, this morning.
“FC Alverca Futebol SAD will provide all the necessary support to their families. At this time of mourning all the activities of FC Alverca are canceled.”
On site medics used a defibrillator on Apolinario on the pitch before he was taken to hospital.
Players, coaches and staff from both teams were seen in tears during the troubling incident.
And some were seen kneeling down and praying before a prayer circle was formed.
A statement from the local emergency services on Sunday read: “We received a warning at 11:30am to help a male victim at FC Alverca Sports Complex and two minutes later we drove two vehicles and four men to the stadium.
“The sooner the help is, the greater the likelihood and quality of life of survival.
“Now we are concerned about the recovery of the man and not the football player. We have confidence.”
Emergency services commander Alberto Fernandes said: “The resuscitation manoeuvres continued in the vehicle that took him to the hospital.
“It was 25 minutes from the fall until the player left for the hospital.
“The doctors wanted to remove him stably.”
In a statement after Sunday’s game, Alverca wrote: “FC Alverca Futebol SAD informs that the athlete Alex Apolinário apparently suffered, on the pitch, in the 27th minute of the game in front of UFC Almeirim, a cardiorespiratory arrest.
“The athlete was immediately attended to by the health professionals of FC Alverca Futebol SAD, properly trained, with a defibrillator, who are always present in the team’s games and training.
“First of all, we would like to thank the firefighters and the ambulance, who quickly arrived on the stadium’s lawn and helped our player.
“We also want to thank the solidarity provided by all athletes and staff at UFC Almeirim in this very delicate moment that we have been through and we are experiencing today.
“Right after the prayer wheel made by everyone present, at the center of the pitch at our stadium, Alex Apolinário had his situation stabilised and was removed, at the discretion of the rescuers, to the Vila Franca de Xira Hospital to continue with his recovery.
“We wish and pray for the complete rehabilitation of Alex Apolinário.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
