Arne Espeel, a goalkeeper for Belgium, passed away on Saturday at the age of 25 after collapsing on the field just after saving a penalty for his team.
Winkel Sport B, a team from West Brabant’s second provincial league in Belgium, had a 2-1 lead over Westrozebeke at the time of their opponent’s second-half penalty.
Espeel reportedly saved the penalty kick, but then collapsed to the ground, according to accounts in Belgian media. Espeel was revived using a defibrillator by emergency personnel who raced to rescue him, but he was declared dead soon after being transferred to the hospital.
Goalkeeper d!es after saving penalty
The game was played at the club’s home ground in Sint-Eloois-Winkel in the West Flanders Province.
“Winkel Sport is in very deep mourning by the sudden death of Arne Espeel,” the club said in a statement.
“We wish family and friends of Arne our heartfelt condolences in this heavy loss. Football is an afterthought.”
An autopsy was scheduled to determine the cause of Espeel’s death.