In Memoriam: Athletes who died in their field of play
British driver Justin Wilson was declared dead Monday after suffering a severe head injury during an IndyCar race in Pennsylvania. Here is a list of athletes who also faced a tragic end on their field of play.- In 1923, jockey Frank Hayes died from a heart attack during a horse race that he actually won. He had apparently suffered a heart attack during the race and was slumped on his horse as he crossed the finish line.
- Reggie Lewis, a Boston Celtics player and NBA All-Star, collapsed during a game and lost his life at the young age of 27. Initially rumors stated that cocaine use had contributed to his death, but the official autopsy report showed that Lewis had
- South Korean boxer Duk Koo Kim, who was the No. 1 lightweight contender died in the ring after suffering severe swelling after several shots from Ray Mancini, including one sequence where he had been hit 39 times in a row. Kim fell into a coma after
- With over 25 years in the sport and seven Winston Cup championships, Dale Earnhardt also faced an untimely death on the NASCAR track, as rammed his car at 150 mph into a wall during the final lap. He was pronounced dead at the hospital hours later.
- Three-time Formula One world champion, Ayrton Senna was considered as one of the all-time greats even before his untimely death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. While in leading position, Senna's car rammed into a wall at 135 mph. He suffered
- During the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup semifinal between Cameroon and Columbia, Marc Vivien Foe collapsed on the field during the 72nd minute of the match. He died at the stadium's medical center. Autopsies revealed that it was a heart muscle
- Just last month, Indian Mizoram Premier League footballer Peter Biaksangzuala, died in hospital after falling on his head while attempting a somersault after scoring for Bethlehem Vengthlang FC - a club based in the north east Indian province of
- Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, died after losing control of his sled on the final turn at Whistler mountain, while training at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Officials immediately closed the track, which had been the subject of numerous complaints, as well as
- Swashbuckling batsman Raman Lamba, a domestic level player who also enjoyed some memorable moments for India in the 1980s, met his tragic end at the age of 38 while fielding close to the wicket without a helmet. He was in a state of coma with a
- Promising Australian cricketer Phil Hughes died on Thursday unable to recover from a head injury he sustained three days ago. Hughes was in a critical condition following an emergency surgery on Tuesday after he was knocked out by a bouncer from
- In another tragic on-field incident after Phillip Hughes' death last November, promising Bengal batsman Ankit Keshri passed away on Monday from an injury sustained during a Cricket Association of Bengal's match on April 17. Here is a list of
- The deceased, Sri Lankan-born British Tamil batsman Bavalan Pathmanathan died after being struck in the chest by a ball while playing in a residential suburb in Surrey over the weekend.
- French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi died Friday night from head injuries he suffered in a crash at last October's Japanese Grand Prix.
British driver Justin Wilson was declared dead Monday after suffering a severe head injury during an IndyCar race in Pennsylvania. Here is a list of athletes who also faced a tragic end on their field of play.
In Memoriam: Athletes who died in their field of play
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