A football club and community are in mourning after a played collapsed during a game from a cardiac arrest and later died.
Enzo Pittau, 35, who recently fathered a baby girl, suffered the tragedy during a match in Machagai in Argentina.
Witnesses describe the ‘tears and chaos’ which followed Pittau’s collapse 41 minutes into Don Orione’s trip to Club Union in the second phase of the Chaco federation tournament.
He was taken to the local hospital in a private vehicle but died there, according to Hechos y Derecho.
‘With deep pain, we communicate the death of Enzo Pittau. We are shocked and affected by this loss. We appreciate your solidarity and understanding in this difficult time for our club and Enzo Pittau’s family,’ his club, Don Orione, wrote.
Pittau had reportedly recently returned to Argentina after a spell playing in Europe.
Footballer Enzo Pittau has died aged 35 in Argentina after suffering a cardiac arrest in a game
The 35-year-old had a baby daughter and had reportedly recently returned to Argentina
His club, Don Orione, posted this mural on Facebook to mark Pittau’s passing
A witness told Diario Chaco via Contexto Tucuman: ‘I was in the middle of the match and Pittau fell to the ground. It was as if he had fainted.
‘ I can still see it, and it’s very painful. Everything turned into chaos. People were running, screaming, crying, and yelling for help. From the stands, we didn’t really know what had happened, but it was awful.’
Another said: ‘I have this image of Pittau falling alone. I can’t get it out of my head. We’re dismayed by what happened. We’re not used to this happening in football.
‘It hurts quite a bit. We were all in shock, the players and us in the stands. The match was stopped for a while and then suspended.’
Pittau was not in a challenge with anybody at the time and fell while moving around alone.
His collapse reportedly came just hours after he posted a deep message on social media.
He had written: ‘The faith and God in between. Today we play with soul and life.’
