{"id":112820,"date":"2015-04-30T18:18:59","date_gmt":"2015-04-30T18:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=112820"},"modified":"2015-04-30T18:18:59","modified_gmt":"2015-04-30T18:18:59","slug":"gregory-mertens-ex-belgium-u21-player-dies-after-collapse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2015\/04\/gregory-mertens-ex-belgium-u21-player-dies-after-collapse\/","title":{"rendered":"Gregory Mertens: Ex-Belgium U21 player dies after collapse"},"content":{"rendered":"

Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens has died of heart failure, three days after collapsing during a match.<\/p>\n

The 24-year-old Lokeren defender was treated on the pitch during the first half of Monday\u2019s reserve-team game with Genk but did not recover after time in hospital on a life-support machine.<\/p>\n

A club statement said: \u201cThe medical staff have done everything to save Gregory, but they finally had to acknowledge their impotence. \u201cGregory passed away at around 16:30.\u201d<\/p>\n

The former Belgium Under-21 international\u2019s condition had worsened since he was taken to hospital in Genk, with doctors giving him little chance of survival. On Thursday his family agreed his life support should be switched off.<\/p>\n

Lokeren say that the exact nature of Mertens\u2019s heart condition has yet to be established. But he passed all pre-season health tests required by Europe\u2019s football governing body Uefa, and was judged to be one of the fittest players at his club.<\/p>\n

He joined Lokeren in January 2014 from Cercle Brugge and played 15 league games this season, as well as featuring against Hull City in the Europa League in August.<\/p>\n

\"82682098_mertens_getty\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The club statement continued: \u201cGregory was only one-and-a-half years at the club, but in that short time his quiet modesty made him an indispensable person.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we will have to learn to live with the loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba , who survived after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing against Tottenham in 2012, said: \u201cHorrible news that Gregory Mertens has passed away, only 24 years old. #RIP.\u201d<\/p>\n

Belgium and Everton forward Romelu Lukaku added: \u201cRest In Peace Gregory Mertens \u2026 Gone too soon. Life is crazy sometimes man\u2026 One day you\u2019re here next day you\u2019re gone.\u201d Lokeren\u2019s Pro League game with Westerlo will go ahead on Friday, with the club and fans preparing to pay their respects to the defender.<\/p>\n

It is understood that the Belgium Football Federation plans to mark all matches on Friday with a minute\u2019s silence. Chelsea and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said: \u201cRIP Gregory Mertens! Much strength to family and friends!\u201d And Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj , also a Belgium international, said: \u201cRIP Gregory Mertens my thoughts go out to his family and friends at this sad time.\u201d<\/p>\n

–<\/p>\n

Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens has died of heart failure, three days after collapsing during a match. The 24-year-old Lokeren defender was treated on the pitch during the first half of Monday\u2019s reserve-team game with Genk but did not recover after time in hospital on a life-support machine. A club statement said: \u201cThe medical staff have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":112821,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[3,38],"yoast_head":"\nGregory Mertens: Ex-Belgium U21 player dies after collapse - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. 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