Andrei Drăghici, a 23-year-old Romanian water polo player for Dinamo Bucharest, passed away during the game against Rapid Bucharest.
Drăghici felt chest pain during the second quarter and couldn’t swim back to defense after his team’s attack.
As he stayed close to Rapid’s goal, a goalkeeper and other players helped him swim to the edge of the pool.
Players from both teams and medical staff attempted to resuscitate him, but their efforts weren’t successful.
23 year-old Romanian water polo player is dead… Sudden heart attack during game… https://t.co/m7TSVnlMIQ
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) March 28, 2022
A healthy 23 yr-old Romanian water polo player, died during a game. He felt sudden heart pain during the 2nd Q. Rescuers tried for an hour to resuscitate him. He’d been in sports for 15 yrs, w no health problems. So sad.
Healthy athletes in their prime should not be dying! pic.twitter.com/Ntxqkd6UoG
— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) March 28, 2022
Total Waterpolo reported:
Drăghici was born on November 24, 1998, in Oradea.
Dinamo Sports Club’s announcement:
Dinamo is saddened by the terrible news received this afternoon. Shortly before noon, during the Superliga match between Rapid and Dinamo, played in the Giulești Pool, one of our players complained of a state of illness. With difficulty, he reached the edge of the pool, where he was surrounded by players of both teams.
The medical staff on the scene and those who arrived later following the emergency calls tried for a long time to resuscitate him, but after about an hour, the death was declared.
The young polo player had trained in sports for more than 15 years and had no known health problems.
Dinamo sends its sincere condolences to the family, hard tried by this shocking loss.
We are with the family and we will give all the necessary support.
God rest his soul! Smooth road to the angels!
Drăghici’s tragic death adds to the dramatic surge of athlete deaths since the COVID-19 jab rollout began over a year ago:
32-Year-Old Serbian Professional Basketball Player Stevan Jelovac Dies After Suffering Stroke
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