Serie B midfielder Piermario Morosini dies after collapsing during game

Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini has died after suffering cardiac arrest during his team's Serie B match at Pescara on Saturday. Morosini's death was confirmed by Dr Edoardo De Blasio, a cardiologist at Pescara's Santo Spirito hospital, who said: "unfortunately he was already dead when he arrived at hospital. He didn't regain consciousness."

All Italian football league matches this weekend have now been suspended as a mark of respect.

Morosini, 25, was given urgent medical attention on the pitch after collapsing after 31 minutes of the match. A defibrillator was also used before Morosini was rushed to Pescara's Santo Spirito hospital.

The Associated Press reported that the player was conscious when he was stretchered off the pitch but was put into a medically induced coma at the hospital. Italian news agency Ansa reported that Morosini suffered a heart attack in the ambulance.

"He looked at me in the eyes when he was taken into the ambulance," Pescara's general manager, Danilo Iannascoli, told Sky Italia.

Italian media reports said a car belonging to traffic police blocked the ambulance's way into the stadium and a window had to be broken so the car could be moved.

"I don't know if the ambulance was late, but I know that the entrance onto the pitch was blocked by a vehicle," Iannascoli said. "Morosini collapsed, he tried to get back up but then collapsed again."

The match was called off, with many of the other players leaving the field in tears.

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/14/piermario-morosini-collapses-during-game

sad news and goes to show just how lucky Fabrice Muamba is.