Pacific

Heart problem causes Tahiti footballer’s death

11:45 am on 7 May 2019

There is shock in Tahiti at a death of a 37-year-old footballer from the AS Mataiea club.

Jérôme Tamata fell to the ground in a weekend match against Manu Ura.

He was rushed to hospital where he later died of a heart problem.

The AS Mataiea club president said Jerome Tamata 's father also died after suffering a heart problem on the pitch.

A player with the AS Taiarapu club in Tahiti also died of a heart attack during a match last year while Laiwaden FC goalkeeper Mikes Gewa died in hospital last month in Papua New Guinea, five weeks after suffering an injury during a National Soccer League match in Lae.