A GREEK footballer has died aged just 21 after a cardiac arrest during a match with no defibrillator or ambulance at the stadium.
Alexandros Lampis was turning out for third-tier side Ilioupoli.
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But with just five minutes on the clock, reports in his homeland say he collapsed.
Tragically, there was no way to resuscitate him on the pitch and the ambulance did not arrive at the ground for another 20 minutes.
Ilioupoli announced the sad news on their social media channels.
Translated from Greek, the club wrote: “Our Oleko, our friend, our brother, your leaving is so unfair.”
“The whole team, the whole Noli is mourning today.
“There are no words to come out – just an unbearable pain and a knot in the stomach.
“Have a good trip, Alecara.”
The shocking incident comes just eight months after Christian Eriksen fell to the turf playing for Denmark at Euro 2020 when team-mate Joakim Maehle threw the ball to him just before half-time.
Like Lampis, the midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest.
Thankfully, doctors and medics were able to jump into action immediately with CPR and get his heart beating again.
He made a full recovery in hospital, had an ICD fitted and completed a six-month deal with Brentford this week to make a return to professional football.
There have also been a number of concerning incidents surrounding player heart conditions in recent months.
Sergio Aguero was forced to retire after experiencing chest pains playing for Barcelona while there were also scares for Victor Lindelof and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
More to follow…