Footballer, 27, collapses and dies during match as club issue heartbroken statement
Tributes have been paid to a footballer who collapsed and died during the first half of a cup match in Portugal. Nassur Bacem, 27, went into cardiac arrest after falling to the pitch during his team LGC Moncarapachense's game against Imortal DC in the Algarve town of Olhao. The drama occurred last night in the 27th minute of a third-round cup match in the regional Taca do Algarve (Algarve Cup) knockout tournament.
A club medic along with health specialists from both teams tried to revive the left-back. Emergency responders arrived and continued their work before he was pronounced dead at the scene. Nassur's club, which plays in Portugal's fourth division, confirmed his death in an Instagram post late last night alongside a photo of him in the team strip. It said: "It is with profound sadness and great dismay that the Lusitano Ginasio Clube Moncarapachense informs of the passing of our athlete Nassur Bacem, 27 years old, who died today during the 3rd round match of the Algarve Cup against Imortal.
"Immediately, all emergency services were activated, including the INEM Institute of Medical Emergency, and the prompt intervention of our club's doctor and physiotherapist, as well as Imortal's physiotherapist and the person in charge of basic life support at the Municipal Stadium of Olhao where the match was played."
It said in a separate statement about the footballer, a former youth player for SC Braga of Angolan origin who was born in the west coast Portuguese city of Aveiro: "Nassur leaves too soon, leaving an immense void in our club and in all those who were close to him, both on and off the field. He was an athlete, a colleague, and a person who will always be part of our family.
"To the family, friends, and loved ones, we extend our deepest condolences in this moment of profound sorrow. To the entire family of LGC Moncarapachense, athletes, technical team, staff, and management, we appeal for unity, strength, and mutual support in this very difficult moment, which will forever be marked in our history."
Nemesio Martins, president of LGC Moncaraparachense, added: "There are no words, it is a very difficult moment for everyone, we deeply regret what happened to our player Nassur Bacem. It was something sudden, there was no time for anything."
Raul Ramirez Osorio, 19, was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by his manager and revived by a nursing student watching the game after going into cardiac arrest on the pitch on Saturday. He was rushed critically injured to Marques de Valdecilla Hospital in the northern Spanish city of Santander.
On September 29 it was confirmed the footballer had lost his fight for life two days after being admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit. Raul's side Colindres, which plays in Spain's fifth-tier Tercera Federation league, said on social media while the young goalkeeper was still fighting for his life in hospital following the incident during their match against Revilla : "We want to send a lot of strength to our goalkeeper Raul Ramírez and his whole family. During yesterday's match against Revilla he suffered a blow for which he is hospitalized in Valdecilla."
The Royal Cantabrian Football Federation, the regional governing body for the league the two teams play in, subsequently said in an official statement: "The Royal Cantabrian Football Federation regrets to announce that Colindres Sports Club goalkeeper Raul Ramirez is brain dead after an accidental collision during last Saturday's match.
"In the midst of this painful time, and at the express wish of his family, the decision has been made to donate his organs so that others may benefit. Cantabrian football mourns the sudden loss of a young man who leaves us too soon, at just 19 years of age."