Odisha Footballer collapses on pitch - 5 tragic on-field deaths in Indian football

Not every day do you hear news of a footballer collapsing on the pitch and dying. But, surprisingly in India, there have been a lot of instances in the recent past. On Sunday, 23-year-old law student Rittik Das collapsed on the pitch in an inter-university football match at the Sports Authority of India Eastern Centre after suffering cardiac arrest. The student was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

Makhan Chothe was lucky that his team owner Ranjit Bajaj was present on the ground to perform mouth-to-mouth CPR when he was knocked down unconscious after colliding in a 2018-19 Hero Elite League match with the Reliance Foundation Young Champs goalkeeper. He would go on to score in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the finals to help Minerva Punjab win the tournament.

However, everyone wasn't as lucky as Makhan Chothe. Some fell victim to the incompetent medical facilities in the ground and had to endure the same dreadful fate as that of Rittik Das. On that note, here are five on field tragic deaths in Indian football.

#5 Sanjib Dutta- 1993 Santosh Trophy, Railways vs Andhra Pradesh

The first recorded account of on-field death in Indian football dates back to 1993 when Sanjib Dutta collapsed on the ground after trying to net in a goal in Kannur. He was rushed soon to the hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.

The Railways team won the match but found it difficult to celebrate as they heard the news of his death. Speaking to Telegraph India, his teammate recalled the night of the tragic accident.

"What a day it was! We were leading by an Arup Srimani goal in that crucial match against Andhra Pradesh. I was waiting for my turn on the bench when suddenly there was a clash as Raja attempted a header. He fell to the ground and was later rushed to the hospital. We won that match but later found out that he had died. Imagine my feelings when I had to bring his body back to Calcutta.

#4 D Venkatesh- 2011 BDFA 'A' Division League, Bangalore Mars vs. South Western Railway

D Venkatesh came on as a substitute but couldn't survive until the final whistle

At the tender age of 23, D Venkatesh breathed his last at the Bangalore Football Stadium in 2011 while playing for Bangalore Mars against South Western Railway in the BDFA 'A' Division League.

The youngster came on the pitch with only five minutes left to play but soon fell down unconscious. The referees called for the stretcher, which arrived soon but no ambulance in the pitch meant he had to be taken to the nearby hospital via an autorickshaw. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

The doctor opined that a cardiac arrest led to his death. However, his father chimed in that he was fine while leaving his home. The fans vented their frustration on the upcoming Super Division match by hurling chairs and other projectiles on to the ground after hearing the news of a dead footballer due to sheer medical negligence. That match had to abandoned midway.

#3 Mahesh Thapa- 2012, Chhayachhobi Club vs. Parasmoni Club

Mahesh participated in an unofficial tournament and played barefoot

'Khep' tournaments are very popular in West Bengal where players are paid per match and appearance basis. Mahesh Thapa departed from his home in Jalpaiguri to reach the Torolpara stadium two kilometers away from his home. Little did he know that he wouldn't return alive.

Mahesh was playing as a striker for Chhayachhobi club against Parasmoni club and collided with the rival goalkeeper and fell down unconscious. He was rushed to a nearby district hospital but couldn't be admitted due to the unavailability of an ICU bed.

On his way to a private nursing home, his heart stopped beating and was pronounced dead upon arrival.

"His condition was very critical but he was alive when he was being taken to the district hospital," said a Jalpaiguri District Sports Association official while speaking to the Times of India.

#2 Cristiano Junior- 2004 Federation Cup, Dempo vs. Mohun Bagan

Cristiano Junior died after colliding with Indian international goalkeeper Subrata Pal

Dempo defeated Churchill Brothers to set up a date with Mohun Bagan for the elusive Federation Cup trophy in 2004, which the Goan outfit had never won. Brazil's Cristiano Junior led the attack lines and even scored a brace for his side which led to the side's 2-0 win over the century-old Calcutta club.

However, neither Dempo nor Cristiano Junior celebrated the victory as the 25-year-old died on that day. Cristiano caught the Mohun Bagan defense napping and latched on to a Jose Colaco shot in the 78th minute to score the second goal. However, on his way to rattling the ball into the back of the net, rival goalkeeper Subrata Pal punched him hard and got himself knocked out cold.

There was no ambulance in the ground and when he was taken to the hospital, Cristiano was declared "brought dead."

#1 Peter Biaksangzuala- 2014 Mizoram Premier League, Bethlehem Vengthlang vs. Chanmari West

Cristiano Junior was the first footballer to die in a football ground in India but Peter Biaksangzuala's incident ensured his case wasn't the last one.

Peter was playing for Bethlehem Vengthlang in the Mizoram Premier League and latched on to a free-kick rebound in the 62nd minute to equalize for his side. The 23-year-old tried to emulate the German legend Miraslov Klose's summersault celebration but paralyzed his spine due to an awkward landing.

Lakhs of viewers watched the game live in the football-crazy state of Mizoram and were horrified. He was taken to the hospital but died five days later after his conditions worsened. The Mizo pledged to donate his eyes and organs moments before his death.

Here one can see the goal and the summersault celebration which led to his untimely death:

Edited by Aaditya Narayan