A GOALKEEPER has tragically died seconds after saving a penalty due to a heart attack.
The 25-year-old Arne Espeel was in action for Winkel Sport B against Westrozebeke in Belgium on Saturday when the shocking incident occurred.
The stopper’s side were leading 2-1 when the opposition were awarded a spot-kick early in the second half.
However, he managed to keep his team’s advantage as he correctly dived the right way to save the penalty.
But straight after celebrating he collapsed onto the turf in front of shocked players and the crowd.
Medics raced onto the field to try and save the star as emergency services rushed to the scene.
However, Espeel was announced dead in hospital.
The match, which was in the seventh-tier, was abandoned.
And to make it even more tragic, the heartbreaking scenes unfolded in front of Espeel's watching parents and his brother Aaron, who was on the subs bench for Winkel Sport.
Following the sad news, a club statement read: “Arne has played for us since he was a kid, and everybody really liked him.
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“It's impossible to understand how something like this could happen to someone so young.
“He had been a completely healthy young lad before.”
Winkel sporting director Patrick Rotsaert then later added: “This is a disaster, and a shock for us all.
“Arne was a lovely guy, and always ready to help others.
“It is a bitter blow, above all for his family and our entire club.”
Winkel’s sister club, Eendracht Hooglede, said: “We were horrified to learn of Arne Espeel's death.
“We will hold a minute's silence in memory of his tragic loss.”
Members of Winkel Sport B will also pay tribute to their late team-mate today by walking through the streets of the village Sint-Eloois-Winkel, in West Flanders, where the club is based.
More to follow…
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