With no ambulance available, Indian footballer dies of cardiac arrest on pitch

Bangalore, Mar 22(ANI): An Indian footballer, D Venkatesh, who plays for Bangalore Mars, has died following a cardiac arrest during a Bangalore District Football Association 'A' Division match at the Bangalore Football Stadium.

According to local media reports, there was no ambulance available at the ground, and his team-mates hired a tuk-tuk (an auto-rickshaw) to take him to a local hospital where Venkatesh was declared brought dead.

The All India Football Federation wrote on it's website: "Venkatesh came on as a substitute in the second half for his club against South Western Railway in a Bangalore District Football Association 'A' Division match and collapsed."

Venkatesh's death coincides with the English Premier League's decision to review its medical procedures after the Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest while playing against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, The Guardian reprots.

This incident has also highlighted the need of having proper medical facilities during sports events, which are clearly in dearth at many such events.

In a similar incident, top Indian club Dempo's Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior died after colliding with the Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Subrata Paul in the final of the 2004 Federation Cup. (ANI)