An 81-year-old football fan has died outside the Azteca Stadium before the World Cup opening match after suffering a heart attack.
The elderly German national collapsed and went into cardiac arrest hours before co-hosts Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0.
Shocking footage showed the man lying on the ground as a large team of paramedics surrounded him and began resuscitation efforts.
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Red Cross staff, Civil Protection officers and other emergency personnel worked on the fan, performing CPR in a desperate bid to save his life.
The drama played out at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City as thousands of supporters gathered for the opening ceremony.
Despite swift on-site treatment, the German national was rushed by ambulance to a specialist cardiology hospital.
He was later pronounced dead despite the rapid medical response, as reported by Need To Know.
The tragedy cast a sombre shadow over the build-up to the expanded 48-team tournament’s opening night.
The authorities confirmed emergency protocols were activated immediately, with medical teams already in place for the high-profile event.
No further details on his identity or exact medical history have been made public by authorities.
The 81-year-old was a foreign fan attending the historic occasion in the Mexican capital.
The match itself kicked off as planned at 8pm local time.
England’s opening Group L match against Croatia will take place next Wednesday (17 Jun).
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