Brazil's Serginho dies after collapsing on pitch

Brazilian defender Serginho has died in hospital after collapsing during a match between his team Sao Caetano and Sao Paulo in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Paulo Sergio de Oliveira Silva, known as Serginho, fell to the ground in the 60th minute of the match, when the ball was at the other end the pitch.

Sao Caetano goalkeeper Silvio Luiz, defender Dininho and Sao Paulo striker Grafite desperately called for for medical assistance.

Both teams’ doctors attended the player, gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and cardiac massage in an attempt to revive him.

After 15 minutes, the player was rushed to Sao Luis Hospital, in Sao Paulo city where he died.

Before discovering his team-mate’s death, keeper Luiz revealed that Serginho had a heart problem that he was having treatment for.

Luiz said: “We knew he had a problem, but he had undergone several tests and told us there was only a 1% chance of suffering any problem. Unhappily that 1% happened.”

The match between Sao Caetano and Sao Paulo, which was goalless at the time of Serginho’s collapse, was abandoned.

“Nobody was willing to continue the game. We don’t care if we lose the match or if they decide to play it some other day,” Luiz added.

Referee Cleber Welington Abade said: “I spoke to both teams’ captains and they told me they weren’t willing to continue playing.”

Serginho was born in Aracatuba on October 19, 1974.

He began his professional career at Patrocinense, in Minas Gerais state, in 1995.

He then played for Social Minas Gerais (1995-96 and 97-98), Democrata Minas Gerais (96), Mogi Mirim (96), Ipatinga (98), Aracatuba (99) and Sao Caetano (since 1999).