BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Sevilla star suffers heart attack <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="2">Spain international Antonio Puerta is in a serious condition after suffering a heart attack in Sevilla's 4-1 Primera Liga win against Getafe on Saturday. </font> <font size="2">The 22-year-old suffered problems midway through the first-half on the opening day of the season in Spain. </font> <font size="2">Medics prevented Puerta from swallowing his tongue, but he collapsed again after going off and was given cardiac resuscitation before going to hospital. </font> <font size="2">A medical report on Sunday said Puerta was in intensive care in hospital. </font> <font size="2">But Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido said doctors were becoming more optimistic. </font> <font size="2">"The player's life was saved thanks to the rapid intervention of the club doctors and the Red Cross because he had a number of cardiac arrests," del Nido was quoted as saying on the club's website after visiting Puerta on Sunday. </font> <font size="2">"Despite the severity of the situation his situation appears to be evolving favourably and the doctors are becoming more optimistic." </font> <font size="2">Puerta collapsed after jogging back towards his own goal 35 minutes into the game at the Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday. </font> <font size="2">Team mates and medical staff rushed to his side and were seen preventing him from swallowing his tongue as he lost consciousness. </font> <font size="2">He was able to walk from the pitch but doctors said that he collapsed again in the changing rooms and had to be given cardiac resuscitation before being taken to hospital. </font> <font size="2">AC Milan, Sevilla's opponents in Friday's European Super Cup issued a statement on Sunday wishing the player a speedy recovery. </font> <font size="2">Team-mate Ivica Dragutinovic was first to Puerta's aid and midfielder Renato said: "We were very frightened, but the doctors knew what they were doing. </font> <font size="2">"It was difficult to continue playing. This victory is dedicated to Puerta." </font> <font size="2">Sevilla coach Juande Ramos was in no mood to talk about his side's victory after the match. </font> <font size="2">"I don't have the mind to speak now. The reason I am here is because we are all professionals, but I have no desire to talk of the game or anything," Ramos said. </font> <font size="2">"I would like to see the player. The game does not have any importance compared with the health of a player." </font> <font size="2"> </font> </div>
Sevilla's Puerta dies <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><u>Spaniard passes away in hospital</u> Antonio Puerta has died three days after collapsing on the field during Sevilla's match with Getafe. The 22-year-old lost consciousness and fell near his own goal on Saturday, and then collapsed again in the changing rooms. He was taken to an intensive care unit for treatment and Sevilla later announced he had suffered a heart attack. Puerta was given assisted ventilation but the Virgen del Rocio hospital said in a statement on Tuesday that he was in a 'very critical' condition. It has now been confirmed that Puerta, who earned one cap for Spain, has died. The second leg of Sevilla's UEFA Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, has been postponed. The game will now be played next Monday. </div> R.I.P.
