Belgian Goalkeeper (25) Dies Moments After Saving Penalty
A Belgian goalkeeper suffered a suspected heart attack and died moments after saving a penalty.
Arne Espeel (25), was in action for Winkel Sport B against Westrozebeke in the Belgian seventh tier on Saturday when the tragic incident occurred.
The Sun reported that Espeel’s club were leading 2-1 when the opposition were awarded a spot-kick early in the second half.
He correctly dived the right way to save the penalty but straight after celebrating, the footballer collapsed onto the turf.
Medics raced onto the field to try to save the player as emergency services rushed to the scene.
However, Espeel was announced dead in the hospital.
The goalkeeper collapsed in front of his watching parents and his brother Aaron, who was on the subs’ bench for Winkel Sport.
Following Espeel’s death, the club issued a statement that read:
Arne has played for us since he was a kid, and everybody really liked him.
It’s impossible to understand how something like this could happen to someone so young.
He had been a completely healthy young lad before.
Members of Winkel Sport B were expected to pay tribute to their late team-mate on Monday by walking through the streets of the village Sint-Eloois-Winkel, in West Flanders, where the club is based.
