A Romanian top-flight footballer has been left devastated after his father suffered a fatal heart attack in a stadium car park just moments after watching him play.
Gheorghe Huiban, 78, collapsed outside the Otelul Galati ground on Saturday 2 May, shortly after his son Dragos had featured in Metaloglobus Bucuresti's 2-2 draw.
The retired school headmaster had been waiting for the 36-year-old attacker to emerge from the changing rooms when he suddenly became unwell.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and attempted to revive him for approximately 45 minutes, but their efforts proved unsuccessful. Medical staff confirmed a heart attack as the cause of death.
Dragos Huiban's father died after suffering from a heart attack
|Gheorghe had made the journey from Barlad alongside his wife and other relatives to see his son take to the pitch in Galati.
Dragos, a former Romania under-19 international, entered the match as a substitute in the 81st minute as his side salvaged a point against their opponents.
Following the final whistle, the 78-year-old waited in the car park for his son to finish his post-match duties. It was there that he suddenly felt ill and collapsed before Dragos could reach him.
Gheorghe had previously suffered a stroke eight years ago, according to reports of his medical history.
Metaloglobus manager Florin Bratu spoke of the harrowing scenes that unfolded in the aftermath of the fixture.
"Huiban's father was at the match with his family, and after the match, in the stadium car park, he waited for Dragos to come from the dressing room," he said. "He suddenly felt unwell and collapsed."
Bratu confirmed that emergency responders acted swiftly but could not save him. "The emergency services intervened very quickly, the doctors performed resuscitation procedures for 45 minutes, but they were unsuccessful," he added.
The coach revealed that players from both Metaloglobus and Otelul Galați witnessed the desperate attempts to revive Gheorghe.
"We are all with Dragos, it is very shocking," Bratu said.
Dragos opted to remain in Galati with his family rather than return to Bucharest with his teammates following the tragedy.
The forward, who began his professional career at FCM Bacau and has represented several leading Romanian clubs including CSA Steaua Bucuresti, signed for Metaloglobus in 2022.
He has enjoyed a productive campaign despite his side's struggles, sitting as the club's second-highest scorer with six league goals and an additional strike in the Romanian Cup.
The player has not yet spoken publicly about his father's sudden death.
Metaloglobus, competing in their inaugural SuperLiga season, were relegated earlier this month following just two victories in 30 matches.