Foe died of natural causes, second autopsy shows

A SECOND autopsy has shown Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe died of natural causes.

The 28-year-old midfielder collapsed during the Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia at Lyon on June 26 and was pronounced dead after 45 minutes of sustained attempts to resuscitate him.

An initial autopsy failed to determine the exact cause of death and the second has ruled out the likelihood he had any stimulants in his body.

Public prosecutor Xavier Richaud said: “The death is from natural causes. No stimulant substances were found. The death was of cardiac origin.”

Shortly after the tragedy, the France and Lyon team doctor Jean-Marcel Ferret said he believed the reasons for Foe’s death were more neurological than cardiac. And if that was the case, nothing could have been done to save him.

“It looked like more neurological than cardiac,” said Ferret, “apparently he suffered a neurological coma.

“The player’s heart stopped as he was transferred into the stadium’s medical centre. It is true that the medical staff could have come onto the pitch before, but this would not have changed anything.”