Spanish football is mourning the tragic death of CD Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who passed away at the age of 30, following a serious on-field collision. The news sent shockwaves across the football community.
De Miguel suffered critical injuries after colliding with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono. "Racked with pain, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe that this is true, from CD Tenerife we communicate the tragic passing of Jesus de Miguel Alameda," the club said. "There are no words of comfort; there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this feeling overflowing with sadness."
According to Reuters, the match against FC Andorra was abandoned seven minutes into stoppage time after De Miguel collapsed following a collision with away goalkeeper Jesus Owono, who had rushed out of his area to clear a long ball and struck the striker in the chest with his knee. Medical staff treated the player on the pitch for more than five minutes before an ambulance took him to hospital.
The incident reportedly triggered a cardiac arrest while De Miguel was being transported to the hospital. Medical teams managed to resuscitate him, and he was admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition. Despite medical intervention, he could not survive his injuries.
According to medical experts at the American Heart Association, commotio cordis is a very rare, serious medical condition that can happen after a sudden, blunt impact to the chest. It can cause sudden cardiac arrest. If the physical blow hits during a small window in the heart rhythm, it can disrupt the heartbeat and cause cardiac arrest.
It is usually not linked to underlying heart issues and is commonly seen in young male athletes. The tragic incident has also brought renewed attention to the risks footballers face during high-intensity on-field challenges.
