In LatinAmerican Post, we want to remember those sportspersons who went ahead to the final goal and became legends

Soccer is in mourning, the sudden death of Fiorentina captain and player of the Italian national team, Davide Astori, has dismayed the world of sport.

Nothing foreshadowed the tragedy that was looming. The player of just 31 years was located in the hotel "La Di Moret" of Udine, like the rest of his teammates. The night before the unfortunate event, the captain of Fiorentina, after dinner, played videogames with his partner and club's goalkeeper, Marco Sportiello, until about eleven-thirty at night.

The next morning, his absence at the club breakfast caught people’s attention. The members of the coaching staff were surprised to see that the captain did not come down to breakfast with his teammates. The masseuse went up to the room to look for him and found him among the sheets without vital signs. Even resuscitation maneuvers could not be carried out, it was too late. According to preliminary information, the player died while sleeping as a result of a cardiac arrest.

Astori's death is regrettable; however, it is not the first of a young athlete:

Antonio Puerta

The young player of Sevilla died three days after suffering a heart attack in a match between his club and Getafe, at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. One of his companions helped to revive him on the stadium and even he left by his own feet. However, in the locker room he suffered five more faints. In the hospital, he was victim of five heart attacks that caused irreparable damage.

Puerta died on August 28, 2007 at age 22, when his girlfriend was in the eighth month of pregnancy. A tragedy that shook the Iberian soccer.

Ayrton senna

Ayrton Senna may be the biggest non-footballing idol that Brazil has ever had. Senna's achievements on the track made him a Formula 1 figure, and his tragic death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix elevated him to the category of legend.

Senna hit at 211 kilometers per hour against a wall. Versions indicate that the steering wheel of his car broke off and therefore he could not turn in a curve. In the impact, his head suffered injuries that killed him hours later. The death of the runner occurred on May 1, 1994 at 34 years of age. He was buried with honors in his native country.

Christian Benitez

An acute myocardial infarction ended the life of the former player of the Eagles of America. With only 27 years, "Chucho" joined a sad list of athletes who die while still in active. His time in Mexican soccer was marked by success, the player was four times champion of scoring (one of them with Santos and the rest with America) and he came out two times champion of League (one with each club).

In addition, Benítez became in 2011 the most expensive transaction in history when he was acquired by the Eagles in 10 million dollars. Additionally, the athlete was a World Cup player with Ecuador in Germany 2006. After passing through the Americas, Benítez left for El Jaish SC club in Qatar, the last of his life.

Soraya Jiménez

Soraya achieved glory when at the Olympic Games in Sydney she won the weightlifting test in the 58 kg class by lifting 225.5 kilograms, becoming the first woman to win gold for Mexico and pave the way for others to follow her Steps.

However, Jiménez died at the young age of 35 after suffering a heart attack at home on the afternoon of March 28, 2013. Previously, the athlete had health complications with multiple knee operations, in addition to having lost a lung due to influenza problems.

Kills in boxing

Boxing deserves a separate chapter, a sport that has suffered several premature deaths due to the injuries of the fights. Precisely, a few days ago the death of the British boxer Scott Westgarth of 31 years was known. The athlete died hours after having won by points his fight against Dec Spelman.

Another case occurred in December, when the 24-year-old Salvadoran, Francisco Ruiz, died after falling knocked out against Ricardo Cortéz in a fight. Several local media claim that the lack of a surgeon at the San Rafael Hospital caused time lost that could have been key to saving his life.

At the moment, the Venezuelan Yeison Cohen remains in critical condition after losing the opening fight of the boxing season against the Colombian Hugo Berrio. Cohen remains in the General Clinic of the North of Barranquilla.

Latin American Post | Daniel Ramírez Pérez
Translated from “ ¿Qué deportistas han fallecido prematuramente?”