US sportswriter Grant Wahl died from an aortic aneurism last Friday while covering the World Cup, it has been confirmed.
The 48-year-old was reporting on the Argentina-Netherlands game and now the autopsy has revealed the cause of death.
Wahl collapsed during extra time and fellow journalists called for medical attention. He was seen to quickly and taken away in an ambulance, but later died.
The American had previously taken himself to hospital while in Qatar as he felt unwell. On that occasion, health officials told him he was probably suffering from bronchitis.
Now, though, as revealed by his wife Dr Celine Gounder, Wahl had an undetected aortic aneurism which ruptured.
“Grant died from the rupture of a slowly growing, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium,” said Gounder in a written statement.
More than a respected journalist
Gounder also took the time to thank well-wishers and pay tribute to her late husband.
“First and foremost, on behalf of myself and our family, I want to express our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of support, love, and sympathy from around the world,” wrote Gounder.
“While the world knew Grant as a great journalist, we knew him as a man who approached the world with openness and love.
“Grant was an incredibly empathetic, dedicated, and loving husband, brother, uncle, and son who was our greatest teammate and fan. We will forever cherish the gift of his life.”
World Cup deaths
Wahl is one of three journalists who have sadly lost their lives during the tournament. ITV technical director Roger Pearce, 65, and Qatari photographer Khalid al-Misslam are the others.
Pearce died suddenly in his hotel room on November 21. Al-Misslam also died suddenly, on Sunday, but further details are not yet known about his death.
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