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Indian fotballer died because there was no medical staff or ambulance

BANGALORE March 24: A senior doctor in Bangalore believes an Indian soccer player, who died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a match, could have been saved if an ambulance and medical staff had been present.

Twenty-seven year-old Bangalore Mars striker D Venkatesh collapsed after coming on as a substitute during a Bangalore District Football Association division 'A' match against South Western Railway. With no ambulance at the ground, Venkatesh's Bangalore Mars teammates were forced to hire an auto-rickshaw to take him to the local Hosmat Hospital.

However, Venkatesh was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Vice-President of Hosmat Hospital, Dr. Benedict Royan, said on Thursday the lack of medical assistance was significant in this situation.

"There was no ambulance, there was no oxygen and there was no trained person on the ground to treat him, to give the first aid.

"So if he had got first aid, the chances (of saving him) would have been there.

The incident brought back the sad memories of 2004 when, during the final of the Federation Cup at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, Cristiano (Junior), a Brazilian forward representing Dempo Sports Club, died after colliding with Mohun Bagan's goalkeeper Subrata Paul. The secretary of the state's soccer body, the Karnataka Football Association, took responsibility for the incident and announced compensation would be paid to the Venkatesh's family. "In future, nothing of such incident will take place and we will see that all the matches have ambulances and the doctors and whatever, such as male nurses and other facilities that are required," Krishna Narayan said.

"First aid attendants will be appointed for the two sick rooms that we will provide in the academy.

The death of Venkatesh coincides with the English Premier League's decision to review its medical procedures following Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba's cardiac arrest while playing against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Muamba is recovering in hospital having received prompt medical attention at the ground.