Dec3120079:56 a.m.
phil o'donnell
this guy's death on Saturday has shaken me (he was playing soccer for Motherwell when he collapsed and died, age 35)
he was 20 years younger than me, for a start
presumably very fit and well taken care of by his club
at my age, sometimes I do worry that something could happen when I'm out running, or just after, but then I'm 192lbs (mostly muscle & bone, but not 100%) and fit for my age, but not young any more and not fit in the way a professional sportsman is
you think of those affected - family, friends, colleagues
the other players must be very badly affected
it all made me think of a rugby game I played in Toulouse in 1972, for Toulouse UC against Prades in the 2nd division; one of the Prades players kicked one of ours on the head when he was lying on the ground; our player was taken off the pitch on a stretcher unconscious; the game finished about 15 minutes later and when we got back to the changing room he was still unconscious on the stretcher on the changing room floor, being tended by the club doctor until the ambulance arrived
it was very scary indeed to see a team mate in that condition; he recovered after being taken to hospital, but I don't think he ever played again.
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BigGerbil 'It was heart failure (left ventricle). Phil's death has shaken me too. He was a great player and one I saw a few times against my team. Usually his midfield dominated ours. He was getting to the end of his football career and had won a handful of medals and a Scotland cap. I would not have been surprised if he'd made the shortlist for player of the season, maybe only one or two players have done better this season. His family should be very proud of him. I am 5 years younger than Phil and naturally athletic but currently out of shape. It is a worry that if someone like Phil can suffer heart failure, what kind of risk is there to someone less fit?' added 1st Jan 2008
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