Gregory Mertens: Ex-Belgium U21 player dies after collapse
Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens has died of heart failure, three days after collapsing during a match.
The 24-year-old Lokeren defender was treated on the pitch during the first half of Monday's reserve-team game with Genk but did not recover after time in hospital on a life-support machine.
A club statement said: "The medical staff have done everything to save Gregory, but they finally had to acknowledge their impotence.
"Gregory passed away at around 16:30."
The former Belgium Under-21 international's condition had worsened since he was taken to hospital in Genk, with doctors giving him little chance of survival.
On Thursday his family agreed his life support should be switched off.
