Antonio Puerta is in a Fight For His Life

By: Ryan | August 26th, 2007

   

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With my Sevilla scarf proudly wrapped around my neck on Saturday, I watched one of the scariest things I have seen in my football career.

During the Sevilla-Getafe match, Sevilla fullback Antonio Puerta collapsed on the field after running back to defend a Getafe counter attack. When Puerta hit the ground, he was unconscious and worse, he was beginning to swallow his tongue. Teammate Ivica Dragutinovic saw Puerta hit the ground he ran over to his side, prying his jaw open in order to grab his tongue so he did not affixiate as the medical staff for Sevilla rushed onto the field.

Mind you…this was all on live TV.

As the medical staff reached Puerta, he sat up and walked off the pitch under his own power (see picture), seemingly alright, but with something obviously wrong.

Puerta made it back to the dressing room, but his heart stopped again and CPR was preformed on him before rushing him to El hospital Virgen del Rocio, in Sevilla.

He suffered two more stoppages of his heart in the hospital while being treated by doctors attempting to find the cause of the problem.

Doctors report that Puerta is in what we would call ‘critical but stable’ condition at the moment. His breathing is being assisted by a respirator for fear that his heart will stop again and he will quit breathing. He is also under heavy sedatives so that he does not awake as they run tests to see what is the cause of the problem.

Last season, Puerta had a ‘heart’ problem, but passed rigorous doctor and medical tests to return to action. Doctors are looking to see if this is related to his current condition, but have not released any more info as of yet.

Real Betis, Sevilla’s eternal rivals, have issued a statement wishing for a speedy recovery, along with the rest of the Spanish Footballing Community.

Send your words of encouragement to puertaestamoscontigo@sevillafc.es.

As more information becomes available, I will make sure to have it here.

It is a shame to say, but times like this show that our favorite players are not invincible as we think they are. And even if they do miss goals from 2 feet away, they are still people, and bad things can happen.

Please join us in the Spanish Community and keep Antonio Puerta in your prayers. Post your comments as well.

Category: Team News

   

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« Sevilla-Getafe…Jornada 1 | Home | Antonio Puerta has passed away »

Comments  

• Erick |  August 26th, 2007 at 11:11 pm

  
  
  

  Get well soon!

  

• Greenie |  August 27th, 2007 at 2:44 am

  
  
  

  hope u recover to full strenght!

  

• Eric |  August 27th, 2007 at 5:57 am

  
  
  

  As a football fan, I hope for the best for him.

  

• mirna |  August 27th, 2007 at 3:32 pm

  
  
  

  I, like you, watched it live here in the states and it was the scariest scene I’ve ever seen. I am praying that God watches over him and takes care of him. I wish him a speedy recovery.

  

• Ayush |  August 27th, 2007 at 10:52 pm

  
  
  

  One of the scariest things I’ve seen. Get well soon Puerta! Hope you can be back in top condition again. God be with you.

  - A Barca fan from India.

  

• Maryam |  August 28th, 2007 at 7:21 am

  
  
  

  puerta..GET WELL SOON…our prayers r with u..i know ur gonna make it through this..seriously it was a very scary moment for all of us..love u.
  ur FAN FROM KUWAIT!!

  

• Isaiah |  August 28th, 2007 at 7:40 am

  
  
  

  Sadly, Puerta passed today after 3 days in the ICU.

  

• CMP |  August 28th, 2007 at 8:44 am

  
  
  

  This Roma supporter would like to send his condolensces to Antonios family and friends, alongg with the club. It is an incredible tragedy. My best wishes.

  

• bloodbath |  August 28th, 2007 at 8:47 am

  
  
  

  me,a United supporter,wants to say the same as CMP…so young,sad stuff…

  

• Joe |  August 28th, 2007 at 9:00 am

  
  
  

  how tragic. my condolensces. something similar happened in my neighborhood about 2 months ago. a 23 year old Chicago Fire supporter who did three tours of duty in Iraq died playing a pickup game of footy. words can’t describe the loss. what a tragedy.

  

• billi |  August 28th, 2007 at 9:01 am

  
  
  

  oh it’s a big loss really. i feel for his relatives(((

  

• Adam |  August 28th, 2007 at 9:35 am

  
  
  

  May his soul Rest In Peace.

  

• roswitha |  August 28th, 2007 at 10:31 am

  
  
  

  Deepest sympathies.

  

• sara |  August 28th, 2007 at 10:52 am

  
  
  

  this is horrible!! very sad…
  he was very young (22) and his wife is pregnant of 7 months…
  my support for his family
  I’m a sad Valencia fan…

  

• john |  August 28th, 2007 at 11:50 am

  
  
  

  No words to describe it accuratly, but it’s absolutely tragic. Anytime that someone so young passes before his or her time, it’s aweful, and for it to happen while the whole world is watching is heart rending. My thoughts and sympathies to his family and friends. We all can agree that watching it happen was horrifying, but imagine how it must have been for them… I’m so sorry

  

• Nicholas |  August 28th, 2007 at 9:58 pm

  
  
  

  horrible n tragic event… it broke my heart to hear that we’ve lost such a talented player like Puerta. RIP.