Gregory Mertens was the player who collapsed. Hope he's ok. http://www.express.co.uk/sport/foot...rtens-artificial-coma-collapsing-during-match
That's bad news. Only 25? I think they need to start screening players for heart defects - this must have been the cause. Too many footballers seem to have cardiac issues. I hope he makes a quick and full recovery.
In Italy all professional and amateur athletes are required by law to have an ECG every year. Since this was introduced the death rate among this group has fallen by 89 per cent compared with the general population. Food for thought.
Its not just the ECG's though, the pitch side emergency services are more prepared than ever to treat these incidents, if it happens to you in the street or at home your chances of dying are hugely increased. I hope the lads okay, must be awful for his family and team mates.
Ironically, everyone who competes in the Europa League has to have an ECG, along with having the heart rhythm and family history checked. Hope he makes it.
It should be done at club level regularly. There's a lot of teams that don't qualify for European competition - or stay in it for long!
It doesn't sound very good... Gregory Mertens' condition deteriorates after heart problem By Alistair Magowan and Chris Osborne BBC Sport The condition of Belgian defender Gregory Mertens has deteriorated following his collapse on the pitch with a heart-related illness. The 24-year-old Lokeren player is in a critical condition after being given CPR in the first half of Monday's reserve-team game with Genk. He is in an induced coma in a Genk hospital on a life support machine. "His situation has deteriorated. We are waiting for the worst news to come," a Lokeren spokesman said. The Jupiler Pro League club say that the exact nature of Mertens' heart condition has yet to be established. They added that Mertens passed all the pre-season health tests required by Europe's football governing body Uefa and was judged to be one of the fittest players at the club. A former Belgium Under-21 international, Mertens joined Lokeren in the summer from Cercle Brugge and has played in 15 league games this term, as well as against Hull City in the Europa League in August. Monday's game was postponed while Mertens was being treated. Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois and Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, both Belgium internationals, have tweeted their support for Mertens, saying: "Keep fighting Gregory". And the former Chelsea midfielder Kevin De Bruyne tweeted: "Incredibly bad news. Keep fighting Gregory."
Just heard on the radio his condition has worsened , poor fella, fingers crossed for him he pulls through
Sadly, he's just passed away... http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/gregory-mertens-dead-live-updates-5610058 RIP
