Belgian footballer Mertens dies after collapsing on pitch

Gregory Mertens' family had agreed with doctors to switch off life support system 3 days after he went into a coma

BRUSSELS: Belgian soccer player Gregory Mertens died on Thursday, three days after he had collapsed during a reserve's match, a spokesperson for his club Sporting Lokeren said.

The match against Genk was 15 minutes old when Mertens collapsed. Belgian media said he had suffered cardiac arrest and received CPR on the pitch. The match was eventually abandoned as Mertens was provided medical treatment.

"The 24-year-old defender, who had played for Belgium at under-21 international level, had been in a coma since going into cardiac arrest early in a reserve team game on Monday"

Club spokesperson Herman Van De Putte told Reuters that his condition continued to worsen and the player's family had agreed with doctors to switch off the life support system.