A 14-year-old boy was struck by a football and collapsed on the pitch as medics were unable to save his life and his club issued a ‘heartfelt’ statement
A teenage footballer died after being struck by a ball during a match in a freak accident.
Benjamin Valentin Donofrio, 14, was taking part in a game on Tuesday afternoon (June 16), when a powerful shot struck him in the chest and stomach. According to witnesses, Valentín, a youth player with Club Atletico Sarmiento de La Banda, fell to the ground in severe pain.
He managed to get back to his feet a few seconds later, but after taking a few steps he collapsed again in front of his friends. Moments later, he began convulsing, prompting an urgent call for emergency medical assistance at the pitch in La Banda, Argentina.
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Paramedics arrived and Valentín was rushed by ambulance to the nearest health centre. However, he suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest during the journey, as reported by NeedToKnow.
Upon arrival at hospital, medical staff performed CPR, but were unable to revive the teenager.
Blows to the chest can, in rare cases, trigger severe disturbances in the heart’s rhythm if they happen at a very specific moment in the heart’s electrical cycle.
This phenomenon, known as commotio cordis, has been documented across a range of sports and can follow seemingly harmless impacts from balls, pucks, or other sporting projectiles.
The Banda and Robles Prosecutor’s Unit has ordered a post-mortem examination to determine whether the death was directly linked to the impact, or whether other contributing factors were involved.
Club Atletico Sarmiento wrote online: “We extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones during this painful time. He will always be remembered for his time with us.”
Club Atletico Sarmienta compete in the Torneo Federal A, one of the two professional leagues that form the regionalised third level of the Argentine football league system, along with Primera B Metropolitana.