Amateur footballer José Alberto Crespo collapsed on the pitch during the final moments of a Saturday match at the Cubito sports complex in Neuquén Capital, sparking conflicting accounts between tournament organizers and eyewitnesses regarding the emergency response.
Doctors Work to Diagnose Hospitalized José Alberto Crespo
José Alberto Crespo remained hospitalized in grave but stable condition at the Hospital Castro Rendón after being transferred from the Hospital Bouquet Roldán, lmneuquen.com reported.
According to sources close to the case, the player was admitted in a grave but stable condition while medical personnel worked to establish a diagnosis. Sources stated that up to Monday midday, the exact cause of the convulsions remained unknown.
Contrasting Accounts of Cardiac Arrest
Accounts regarding the severity and nature of the medical emergency differ significantly between the tournament organizers and on-site witnesses.
neuquennews.com.ar reported that the player suffered three consecutive cardiac arrests and was placed in a pharmacological coma in the intensive care unit.
In contrast, tournament representative Marcelo told lmneuquen.com that Crespo suffered a seizure rather than a cardiac arrest while on the pitch, maintaining that the player did not experience a heart attack inside the sports complex.
Ambulance Malfunction Delays Medical Response on Pitch
Eyewitness reports detailed delays and operational issues involving the on-site medical vehicle. reported that a spectator who was a nurse performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (RCP) on the pitch before the tournament’s sanitary unit arrived.
Witnesses alleged that the rear doors of the tournament ambulance jammed, preventing medical staff from loading the patient. According to lmneuquen.com, tournament organizers acknowledged a difficulty with the vehicle’s rear door but stated that the mechanical jam occurred only after bystanders climbed inside to force it open. Organizers added that the ambulance reached the pitch within two to three minutes of the call.
Teammates Transport Crespo in Private Pickup Truck
Due to the issues with the sanitary vehicle, teammates loaded Crespo into the bed of a private pickup truck and drove him to the Hospital Bouquet Roldán while administering chest compressions during the journey, neuquennews.com.ar reported.
The incident has intensified participant complaints directed at the Torneo Don Pedro organization concerning the availability of operational automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and previous criticisms regarding emergency medical coverage at the venue.
