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Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel has died after suffering a heart attack following a collision on the pitch during a Spanish second division match. He was 30 years old.
De Miguel was tackled in the chest by Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono in extra time as he tackled the ball near midfield on Monday.
Owono was given a straight red card for the incident.
De Miguel was taken to hospital and the 2-2 draw was abandoned after the incident.
Tenerife said in a statement to Spanish media late on Monday that De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest but was taken to hospital in an ambulance with a pulse restored. But it later reported that his condition had “deteriorated neurologically” and then declared De Miguel dead at 8am.
The club, based in Spain’s Canary Islands, said they were “heartbroken”.
Hailing from Madrid, De Miguel made his professional debut with Leganes B in 2015 and has since played for a number of lower division clubs in Spain. He moved to Tenerife last year.
“There are no words of consolation,” the club said in a statement. “There is nothing that can ease this deep sadness. We are with his devastated family, loved ones and the entire community of Tenerife.”
The heavy tackle came when Owono ran from his own area to midfield to challenge a long ball that De Miguel was trying to reach.
De Miguel first bent on his knees, held his torso for a few seconds, then fell on his back, his arms falling to his sides.
Owono walked off the pitch after the red card, but turned around and joined other players rushing to check on De Miguel.
Andorra, owned by former Barcelona star Gerard Pique, also offered their condolences, along with other clubs, the Spanish Football Federation and La Liga.
“We want to offer our deepest condolences to Jesús de Miguel’s family, all his colleagues and friends and CD Tenerife. May he rest in heaven,” Andorra said in a statement.
The players of “Real Madrid” observed a minute’s silence for De Miguel during training, while his compatriot “Espanyol” postponed the introduction of their new head coach.
English clubs “Manchester United” and “Liverpool” expressed their condolences on social networks.
The Spanish Football Federation has postponed two Copa del Rey matches and one Copa de la Reina match scheduled for Tuesday.
Life-threatening injuries from collisions in football are extremely rare.
Last year in Spain, the 19-year-old goalkeeper died of head trauma during a collision in a fifth division match. Colindres goalkeeper Raul Ramirez suffered two cardiac arrests, one on the field and then in the ambulance, while being taken to hospital. Two days later, he was declared brain dead.
In 2001, Ukrainian goalkeeper Serhiy Perkhun died of head injuries sustained during a match while playing for the CSKA club in Moscow.