The Dinamo Bucharest and Cameroon midfielder Patrick Ekeng has died in hospital, less than two hours after collapsing during a league match against Viitorul Constanta.

The player had been on the pitch for only seven minutes after his introduction as a second-half substitute when he fell to the floor, with his side 3-2 ahead, in the 70th minute. The match was being televised live in Romania. Local media reported that he suffered a heart attack.

Ekeng was taken by ambulance to the nearby Floreasca Emergency Hospital, which was swiftly surrounded by Dinamo fans desperate for news of a player who joined the club in January and was making his seventh league appearance. He had scored his first goal for the club in last month’s Romanian Cup semi-final, against their city rivals, Steaua Bucharest. Ekeng had previously played in Europe for Le Mans, Lausanne and Córdoba and had seven senior caps for Cameroon.

Digisport claimed it took two minutes and 47 seconds for Ekeng to be taken to the ambulance, which they said contained no specialist equipment and was intended to be used purely for transportation.

The Guardian

RIP.

I have no words. So young.

Yeah, I heard about that earlier today, its very sad, I wish the best to his family, close friend and team mate. :(

RIP. So sad when this happens.

Medical care needs to be at maximum at all levels of professional football. The urgency and quality of the paramedics that night at White Hart Lane was what saved Muamba. This stuff is more important than football itself. My thoughts go out to his family, friends and the club.

RIP. he's the same age as me damn it .... this is tragic

R.I.P :( so sad.

rip

How is this keep on happening in Modern Football ? I think only in football we see similar fatalities happening more often than other sports . So young ! RIP . Died doing what he loved ..

RIP. Very sad.