A 24-year-old Colombian soccer player collapsed and died while training with his club Real Santa Cruz on Friday.
The club, which competes in Bolivia’s top league, announced that Guillermo Denis Beltran passed away due to respiratory failure.
Beltran’s teammates reported that he felt nauseous and subsequently collapsed. Club doctors called an ambulance after initial attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
“He was training as usual, then he collapsed. Attempts were made to revive him, but he passed away upon being transferred to a medical clinic,” said Real Santa Cruz director Adolfo Soria Galvarro about the tragic incident.
The Bolivian national team honored Beltran with a minute of silence before their friendly match against Algeria on Friday night.
Fernando Costa, the president of the Bolivian Football Federation, expressed his condolences and stated that support would be provided to the club and Beltran’s family. Costa also mentioned that an investigation into the incident would be conducted.
Guillermo Denis Beltran scored one goal in 21 matches for Real Santa Cruz in Bolivia’s premier soccer division. He began his career with the Colombian club Atletico Nacional.
“He was much more than a talented player: He was a friend. His passion for the game and his tireless spirit will forever be remembered and cherished,” Real Santa Cruz said in a statement.
