Mertens dies after on-pitch collapse

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Gregory Mertens started his career in the youth team of hometown club Anderlecht


Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens has died of heart failure, three days after collapsing during a match.

The 24-year-old Lokeren player was given CPR during the first half of Monday's reserve-team game with Genk but did not recover after spending 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."