Heart attack kills 17-year-old while playing football in Vilimale'

A 17-year-old boy died yesterday while being transported to Male’, after he lost consciousness while playing football in Vilimale’.

Hassan Nafiu, 17, from Laamu Gan, was taken to Vilimale’ Health Centre by his friends around 5:00 p.m. yesterday evening. The boy had previously undergone heart bypass surgery, the health centre later said.

Ahmed Zahir, person in-charge of Vilimale’ Health Centre told Sun today that it is likely for Hassan Nafiu to have suffered a seizure before he was brought to the centre.

Nafiu was unconscious and motionless when he reached the health centre and a rubber piece, that was inserted to his mouth following the seizure, was lodged in his throat, the health centre chief said.

“A rubber material stuck in his throat came out when the health centre was performing cardio,” the Zahir said.

However, Nafiu is believed to have died due to a heart attack while being transported to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), Zahir explained. Officials at IGMH were unavailable for comment.

Police confirmed that a patient was urgently transported yesterday evening, from Vilimale’ to IGMH on request of the Vilimale’ Health Centre. Police did not provide details.