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Spain Footballer Antonio Puerta Dies, Tearful Sevilla President Jose Maria del Nido Pays Tribute To The Left-Footed ‘Diamond’

Submitted by Niraj Prabhu on Wed, 29/08/2007 - 10:26.

Spain international Antonio Puerta has died after three days after he had a heart-attack while playing for Sevilla at home in the La Liga opener against Getafe.

The 22-year-old winger had collapsed on the field and after brief recovery again collapsed in the changing room and was rushed to the Virgen del Rocio hospital in Seville on Saturday and was since in a critical condition.

"We regret to report that the patient Antonio Puerta died at 1430 (1230 GMT) today. The death was caused by postanoxic encephalopathy and a multiple failure of his organs caused by the prolonged cardiac arrest that provoked his admission to hospital," read a hospital statement.

"Today is one of the saddest days in the history of Sevilla Football Club," Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido told reporters.

"That diamond left foot of Antonio Puerta's has left us, that left foot that changed our lives has left us," he said with teary eyes.