A 16-year-old teenager, identified as Edson Lopes Gama, died after being hit in the chest by a ball during a football match in the rural area of Maués, in Amazonas. The incident occurred last Monday (6), while the young man, who acted as goalkeeper, took part in a penalty shootout.
Images recorded at the time show the young man falling to the ground shortly after the impact. He was rescued and taken to the nearest hospital, but he did not survive and died in the health unit.
Reports of pain before the game
According to the portal, Elisia Lopes, the teenager’s sister, reported that he had already complained of chest pain before the match. She believes that the pain could have been caused by injuries accumulated in football tournaments, in which he participated regularly.
“I never missed a football play. He had already been hit several times in past tournaments. He was always dedicated to sport. He was a young man who gave his life for the ball, and it was the ball that took his life”, lamented Elisia.
Also read:
The family stated that the young man had no history of heart problems. According to the doctors who provided care, repeated impacts to the chest region may have contributed to the fatal outcome.
Waiting for the official report
Family members are still awaiting the results of the official report to determine the cause of death. The funeral was held on Tuesday morning (7), in Maués, the teenager’s hometown.
The case caught the attention of the local community and reignited discussions about the medical and physical care necessary for athletes, even in amateur contexts.
Watch the moment the teenager is hit by the ball:
Do you want to receive news on your cell phone? Enter the RIC.COM.BR WhatsApp channel. !
