Puerta Collapse

Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta is in a serious but stable condition after suffering a heart attack during his side's La Liga match against Getafe.

Reports last night suggested that the Spain international was in a "very serious" condition after collapsing to the ground 35 minutes into the game at the Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday evening.

And with concern mounting about the 22-year-old's welfare, club president Jose Maria del Nido confirmed today that the player suffered a cardiac arrest.

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"He had a heart attack," Del Nido told Cadena Ser radio. "He's in intensive care and is stable. We were scared, very scared, for the life of the player."

Team mates and medical staff immediately rushed to Puerta's side and were seen preventing him from swallowing his tongue as he lost consciousness, but he was able to walk from the pitch.

However, Puerta collapsed again in the changing rooms and, according to doctors, had to be given cardiac resuscitation before being taken to hospital.

An initial medical report by the Virgen del Rocio hospital in Seville reflected the gravity of the player's plight.

"He is in the intensive care unit where he has been given assisted ventilation and is experiencing hemodynamic instability," read the statement. "The prognosis is very serious."

In a statement on the club's Web site, Del Nido praised the club's medical staff for their handling of the situation.

"Fortunately the club doctors and the machines managed to resuscitate him but we experienced some terrible moments because the life of the player was in danger," said the Sevilla president.

AEK Athens asked UEFA for a postponement of their match with Sevilla because of the wildfires and Sevilla agreed (respecting AEK's wish and also realising that their own players aren't in the best psychological state with Puerta hospitalized), but UEFA refused to set another date.

AEK's captain made statements about UEFA's decision and was in tears as his hometown is in the affected area and he knows many people whose lives have been destroyed/affected because of the fires. He said he would obviously prefer not to play right now but they have no choice.

As for Puerta, i hope there's no permanent damage left and maybe he can live a normal life as long as he stops football. A tough thing to do, especially at his age, but if it has to be done it has to be done.

Has died

just heard that on sky sports news as well. really sad news. only 22 as well,

R.I.P

thats a real shame ....did not know much about him but its still a shock and it must be a very tough time for the players and family and friends right now .

R.I.P

It's a sad day for football.

It's unbelievable that he could die like this at his age.

R.I.P

I'm actually trying to get on the Sevilla fc site, but it is running incredibly slowly. It must be flooded with people trying to pay their respects to the guy.

I just hope this doesn't affect Sevilla's performances in a negative way. I hope they go out and play every game for Puerto, and do well, as that's what he would want.

RIP

He died doing what he loved, but 22 is no time to go. Especially with a child on the way.

I thought he'd survive this, after seeing him get up and walk off the pitch.

The worst moment was when he arrived to the changing room.

Terrible, terrible news.

I thought he could recovered, we've seen him alive after he felt.

It's a sad news.

R.I.P

Agree with RC, Just heard that it was an Ireditary Heart Disease. Hopefully the game will be called off.

Didn't Marc Vivien Foe have a similar condition?

Marc Vivien Foé felt a little while after a run, the weather was hot, but Marc Vivien stayed unconscious after he had felt. A sad news too.

I mean Foe had an undetected heart disease did he not?

i was shocked when i heard this. I feel a lot for the family.

as expected the Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens was postponed last night , i guess the next few games will be very hard for the players ..

Or maybe it will have a positive effect as the players, much like those of QPR, i am sure will play that much harder and with that much more determination for him, in his memory.

Sorry i don't know, it was a little while after he has done a run, i've not heard that he had a heart disease.

It was the same thing that happened to Foe and the same thing happened to a Benfica player Miklos Feher.

i remember hearing that marc vivien foe wasnt supposed to play in the game where he collapsed. he was told by doctors that he shouldnt play because something was wrong with his heart. but he went ahead and played...and resulted in him dieing