24-year-old Gregory Mertens dies three days after collapsing on pitch due to a heart-attack

Gregory Mertens was 24 years old when he tragically passed away after suffering a heart attack three days earlier

Belgian club Sporting Lokeren have confirmed that Gregory Mertens died of a heart failure. The 24-year-old defender had collapsed in the first half of a reserve-team match against Genk on Monday and was given CPR on the field.

Fans and teammates had watched in horror, praying, as the medical teams tried to resuscitate him for 30 minutes. He was later rushed to hospital and put on life-support, but even then the reports were not positive. Mertens had even passed all pre-season health tests required by UEFA and was also one of the fittest players at Sporting Lokeren.

A club spokesman had said on Wednesday: “We are waiting for the worst news to come.” Mertens had been in coma since the incident.

The club have now confirmed everyone’s worst fears and said he passed away on Thursday evening in a statement. The statement said: “The medical staff have done everything to save Gregory, but they finally had to acknowledge their impotence.

“Gregory passed away at around 16:30.”

Met droefheid melden wij u het verlies van Gregory Mertens. Wij wensen de familie en vrienden alle sterkte toe. pic.twitter.com/pV0lDz1UnD

— Sporting Lokeren (@KSCLokeren) April 30, 2015

The tweet reads: “With sadness we inform you the loss of Gregory Mertens. We wish the family and friends all strength.”