Tributes pour in for Irish teenager (15) who collapsed and died during soccer game
PUBLISHED13/10/2014 | 12:30
Caroline Crawford and Cormac Byrne
A Junior Cert student tragically died after collapsing during a football match just moments after he scored a goal.
Hassan Taiwo, who was just 15 years old, had just scored a goal for his team when he suddenly collapsed at pitches in Doughiska in Galway city on Sunday.
Hassan was playing with Merlin Woods against Salthill Devon when the tragedy occurred on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Emergency services rushed to the scene after Hassan suddenly collapsed just before 1pm yesterday. Play was suspended as medics tried desperately to resuscitate the teenager.
An ambulance arrived within minutes and he was rushed to University Hospital Galway where he was later died. A post mortem examination is being carried out on his remains today.
Teammates of the young man, who witnessed the tragedy, were left traumatised by the incident.
“He was playing football when he just fell. There had been no tackle or anything, it just came from nowhere. It was an awful shock for everyone who was there,” said one local.
The teenager was a Junior Certificate student at St Joseph’s Patrician College, known locally as the Bish. School friends were today being offered counselling services and a mass was held for the young student this morning.
Friends described Hassan as a boy who always had a smile on his face. He had volunteered to help teachers at the school teach soccer to younger boys in the school.
Hassan was also a member of the Relay Athletics Team that came fourth in the All-Ireland Athletics Championship last year.
His parents and two older brothers are being comforted by friends and neighbours in the Ballinfoyle, Tirellan area. The family, who are originally from Nigeria had lived in the area for some time.
The school said its two counsellors were available to students who need their services. A psychologist from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) was also brought into the school today to offer services to Hassan’s shocked friends and schoolmates.
A member of the Merlin Woods club said the entire club was in shock at the sudden death.
“Hassan was a young boy who had only recently joined the club. People are just in absolute shock. It’s just a very sad loss for so young a boy,” they added.
Local councillor Padraig Conneely said the entire community was heartbroken at the sudden death.
“The family had moved here from Nigeria and had made Galway their home. They are very much part of the community and Hassan was so into sport locally. This is just an absolute tragedy for the family and the entire area. The whole community is joining this family in their grief,” he added.
Gardai described the death as a tragedy.
Meanwhile, tributes have been pouring in for the tragic teenager (15).
Social media sites have been flooded with tribute messages for the tragic teenager.
The Galway Football Association also released this statement: "It is with deepest regret that we receive the news today of the tragic death of Hassan Taiwo, of Merlin Woods FC who passed away during a match yesterday.
"We pass on our deepest sympathies to the his family, friends and players of both clubs involved in the fixture."
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