Mertens dies after on-pitch collapse

Gregory Mertens dies after on-pitch collapse

Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens has died of heart failure, three days after collapsing during a match.

The 24-year-old Lokeren player was treated on the pitch during the first half of Monday’s reserve-team game with Genk but did not recover after time in hospital on a life-support machine.

A club 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.”

The former Belgium Under-21 international’s 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.

Mertens passed all pre-season health tests required by Europe’s football governing body Uefa, and was judged to be one of the fittest players at his club.

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.

The club statement continued: “Gregory was only one and a half years at the club, but in that short time his quiet modesty made him an indispensable person. Now we will have to learn to live with the loss.”

BBC Sport