A 35-year-old footballer has tragically died after collapsing on the field, following what has been reported as a cardiac arrest. This occurred just hours after he posted a poignant message online.
Enzo Pittau, a father of a newborn baby girl, was playing in a cup game when he appeared to lose his balance several times before collapsing about 41 minutes into the match.
Pittau was representing Don Orione in an away game against Club Union as part of Argentina`s Chaco Federation tournament.
Witnesses described the scene after his fall as filled with “chaos… screaming… and crying” as spectators and players grasped the severity of the situation.
Media outlet Hechos y Derecho reported that Pittau was transported to a hospital in a private vehicle, where he was later pronounced dead.
A well-known figure in the Chaco League, Pittau had played for several teams in the area and also had professional stints in Italy, Switzerland, and Spain.
The football community in the region, situated north of Argentina`s capital Buenos Aires, is currently mourning and in disbelief over his passing.
Just a few hours before the match, Pittau had shared a heartfelt message and a photo on social media.
He wrote: “The faith and God in between. Today we play with soul and life.”
The accompanying picture showed his football jersey and shin guards, which notably featured photographs of his new daughter.
His club released a statement expressing their deep sorrow: “With deep pain, we communicate the death of Enzo Pittau. We are shocked and affected by this loss. We appreciate your solidarity and understanding in this difficult time for our club and Enzo Pittau`s family.”
An eyewitness shared their account with Diario Chaco via Contexto Tucuman: “I was watching the match and Pittau just fell to the ground. It seemed like he had fainted. I can still see it vividly, and it`s very painful. Everything descended into chaos. People were running, shouting, crying, and screaming for help. From the stands, we didn`t fully understand what had happened, but it was awful.”
Another witness commented: “I can`t get the image of Pittau falling on his own out of my head. We are all dismayed by what occurred. It truly hurts. Everyone was in shock – the players and those of us in the stands. The match was halted for a period and then ultimately suspended.”
Local reports suggest Pittau had returned to the Chaco area recently to be closer to his family due to health issues concerning his grandfather.
Sunday`s tragic game was the return leg in the second phase of the Argentinian Federativo tournament.
