A 22-year-old man died after collapsing on a football pitch during a game with friends at St Aloysius College Sports Complex, on Malta Monday night.
Justin Tabone was playing football when he suffered a suspected heart attack at around 9.30pm. A fellow player said everything happened “very quickly”.
Players, who spoke to Times of Malta on the condition of anonymity, said they called an ambulance and then tried to get someone to administer CPR.
They claim they asked a groundsman if there was an automated external defibrillator (AED) and were told no.
A doctor and a first aider tried to resuscitate him while they waited for the ambulance, which arrived around 15 minutes later.
Emergency physicians then took over, the players said.
It has since emerged that St Aloysius school has two of the devices, the closest of which was located some distance away in the school building across the street.
The school’s rector, Fr Jimmy Bartolo, also stressed there are signs leading people to the machines, emphasizing that it was not a case of negligence.
Tabone’s sister wrote a heartfelt tribute, following his sudden death.
From Lovin Malta:
“To my brother, who was the key to everything, the one that never complained, always there to help anyone, with a heart of gold,” his sister wrote.
“The uncle of my son that was always by Zane’s side. You were the man of the family always ready to step in and take care of things,” she said.
“We lost an angel with white wings as bright as you can always be. I am going to miss you so very much.”
“Always loving me no matter whether we had our ups and downs… you always stayed by my side.”
“You left me here behind you, I want you back. I miss you and I love you.”
“I didn’t get the chance to tell you how grateful I am for you to be in my life, my brother, always in my heart, never forgotten.”
