16-year-old fainted on ground passes away

Boy was critical after being hit by ball on face

DT News Network

Manama

Notwithstanding the prayers, a 16-year-old boy, who fell unconscious during a football match, breathed his last yesterday. DT news reported last Saturday about the boy, Elias Ali Jawad, who was being treated at the BDF Hospital on life support.

His death came after a 12-day-long battle for his life. The boy swooned on the ground when the ball hit on his face with force on May 12 while playing a football game in Sanabis.  

His heart was initially revived by Dr. Habib Al Tareef, a Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon residing in the same area, who was brought to the scene by the spectators watching the match. The teenager was admitted to BDF Hospital's Intensive Care Unit in a critical condition. 

Earlier, a source close to the family of Elias confirmed to DT News that they were told by the hospital medical staff that they weren't able to save his life. 

"After suffering a cardiac arrest, his brain was largely damaged due to lack of oxygen supply. He is alive for now with equipment to control his breathing and maintain his blood flow," the source added. "But he is brain-dead unfortunately, and we aren't sure for how long they will keep the machines on him."

Elias was buried in a Sanabis graveyard yesterday. 

The tragedy occurs almost a month after the death of 14-year-old Bahraini national Hassan Isa Al Muri, who also fainted during a tug-of-war contest.

He was pronounced dead in a Barbar medical clinic due to cardiac arrest.