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Sporting Lokeren have
announced the death of their defender Gregory Mertens, who collapsed during a
reserve match on Monday. Photo: Eurofootball/Getty Images
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The Sporting Lokeren defender Gregory Mertens has died
in hospital, three days after he collapsed during a reserve match.
The 24-year-old, who
had played for Belgium at Under-21 level, had been in a coma since going into
cardiac arrest early in a game against Genk on Monday night.
The Lokeren spokesman
Herman Van de Putte said Mertens’ condition continued to worsen and the
player’s family had agreed with doctors to switch off the life support system.
Mertens began his
senior career at Cercle Brugge in 2011 before he made the move to Lokeren in
January last year. He made his debut as a late substitute in a 3-0 victory over
his former club on 18 January 2014 and made 30 further appearances for the
first team, including three Europa League games earlier this season.
A club statement said:
“Today something happened which no one could ever dare to predict. Much too
soon, we are saying goodbye to Gregory Mertens.
“We are a football
club. Everyone in and around the club lives and breathes football. But suddenly
something happens which makes us realize football is just football. Today is
such a time.”
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