Dwamena collapses during an Austrian Cup match

Raphael Dwamena, Austrian BW Linz player, collapsed this afternoon during an ÖFB Cup match against Hartberg. The footballer fell in the 23rd minute next to the benches while screaming. The hospital to which the Ghanaian has been transferred has reported that he is stabilized and conscious. The meeting has been suspended.

According to the medium Kronen newspaper, the player has suffered a myocardial infarction. To stop it, an automatic defibrillator that Dwamena was installed last year in an operation, when he was playing for Zaragoza, has been key. “His defibrillator activated and the doctors were able to stabilize him quickly,” explained BW Linz coach Stefan Reiter. In fact, they have reported that Dwamena was conscious while being transferred to the hospital, where they are doing tests.

Race marked by heart problems

It is not the first time that the 26-year-old has faced heart problems. In 2017 he was going to sign for Brighton, but the transfer was canceled because he did not pass the medical tests, where he was detected cardiac arrhythmias. Nevertheless, the medical services said that it was not dangerous for his health and that it allowed him to continue competing as an elite athlete.

Dwamena went through Levante and Zaragoza where, last year, He underwent surgery to install an automatic defibrillator to protect him in the event of serious arrhythmias, as was the case this Wednesday. Also in this intervention, which was scheduled from when the heart problem was detected, it served to perform an electrophysiological study.

The Ghanaian already had a holder installed before the operation, which registered an unusual tachycardia during a match between Zaragoza and Málaga. After the operation, the Danish Vejle terminated the contract with Dwamena as he suffered problems again.

The Ghanaian striker arrived at BW Linz this summer, but a thrombosis has kept him away from the playing fields until the end of September, when he returned to play.