Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, 30, died in hospital on Tuesday after suffering a cardiac arrest following a collision during a Spanish second division match, leaving behind his girlfriend Maria and their one-year-old daughter Carla.
De Miguel took a heavy blow to the chest from a challenge by Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during Monday's game. Owono is among those grieving the player's death.
Friend describes girlfriend's ordeal
De Miguel's friend, Fernando Roman, who plays for Spanish side Talavera, told Spanish outlet Vamos a Ver that Maria was alone in the hospital after the incident. Roman said he and his girlfriend had been in contact with Maria throughout the night.
"Yesterday, my girlfriend and I were talking all afternoon and all night with Maria, his girlfriend, who was alone in the hospital," Roman said. "I've spoken with his girlfriend, and you can imagine how she is. Now we have to be with the family."
Maria was at the stadium for the match with their daughter Carla. De Miguel's parents travelled to Tenerife after being informed their son had been taken to intensive care.
Father's reaction at a bar
A neighbour of De Miguel's parents in Navahermosa, a village in Toledo, Spain, told Y ahora Sonsoles that his father was watching the match at a bar and started crying as soon as he saw the collision. He immediately gathered his family to travel to Tenerife.
Roman also shared a heartfelt open letter to De Miguel on social media, recalling their friendship and shared moments, including a trip to Punta Cana and time spent with their daughters. He ended the letter with: "My friend, I'm going to miss you so much... I love you dearly! REST IN PEACE!!"
