No one should ever die young. This includes athletes. Unforunately, they do occur. There will always be a maltitude of reasons and the various manners. Deaths like these can either be sudden or a deteriating one. When it comes to sports though, I believe that it's mostly sudden due to them being able to afford the best medical care available. Regardless, no one should meet the grim reaper at a young age.
It has been reported that Montenegro goalkeeper, Matija Šarkić, has passed away at the age of 26. He collapsed and never regained consciousness. He was playing for English club, Millwall, at the time. Millwall put out a statement, "Everyone at the club sends their love and condolences to Matija’s family and friends at this immensely sad time."
The Montenegro FA said, "deeply saddened” by the loss of “our beloved Matija Šarkić. Matija was not only a remarkable athlete but also a cherished teammate and friend. He was both the present and the future of our National team. His unexpected death has left us all in shock and mourning.”
The goalkeeper made nine international appearances and started for Montenegro against Belgium on 5 June, a friendly international, which Belgium won 2-0.
Born in the English town of Grimsby, Šarkić began his career with Anderlecht in Belgium before moving to Aston Villa in 2015.
The most common death of young athletes are heart related. Sudden cardiac death is the swift and not expected ending of all heart activity. Breathing and blood flow stop right away. Within seconds, the person is not conscious and dies.
Sudden cardiac death is different from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). SCA is the sudden loss of heart activity due to an irregular heart rhythm. Survival is possible with fast, proper medical care. Sudden cardiac death in seemingly healthy people under age 35 is rare. It is more common in males than in females.
Heart conditions that are not diagnosed, such as a genetic heart disease, can cause sudden death in teenagers and young adults. A heart condition that is not identified, may cause a young person to suddenly die during physical activity, such as competitive sports. Sudden cardiac death can occur without activity.
With athletes being able to suffer from these conditions, it's important to identify the causes. Changes in the heart's electrical signaling often causes sudden cardiac death. A very fast heartbeat causes the lower heart chambers to squeeze fast and in a way that is not coordinated. The heart can't pump blood to the body. This life-threatening type of irregular heartbeat is called ventricular fibrillation.
Anything that strains the heart or damages heart tissue can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. Some conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac death in young people are:
Thickened heart muscle, also called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This genetic condition is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young people. It causes the heart muscle to grow too thick. The thickening makes it hard for the heart to pump blood. This can cause fast heartbeats.
Long QT syndrome. This heart rhythm condition can cause fast, chaotic heartbeats. It's linked to fainting for no reason and sudden death, especially in young people. If you are born with it, it's called congenital long QT syndrome. If it is caused by a medicine or health condition, it's called acquired long QT syndrome.
Other heart rhythm conditions. Other irregular heart rhythms can cause sudden cardiac death. These include Brugada syndrome and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
Forceful hit to the chest. A blunt chest injury that causes sudden cardiac death is called Commotio Cordis. Commotio Cordis may occur in athletes who are hit hard in the chest by sports equipment or by another player. This condition doesn't damage the heart muscle. Instead, it changes the heart's electrical signaling. The blow to the chest can trigger ventricular fibrillation. The hit must occur at a specific time in the heart signaling cycle.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). With this inherited condition, some of the heart's muscle tissue gets replaced with scar tissue.
Myocarditis. Usually triggered by an infection, myocarditis means the walls of the heart are inflamed. Most myocarditis cases in children happen when a virus such as an enterovirus gets into the heart. It can also be caused by bacterial, fungal or parasite infections, and allergic reactions to some medications.
Marfan syndrome. This connective tissue disease can lead to tears in the heart's aortic blood vessel. People born with the condition, who tend to be tall and have long arms, may not realise they have it.
Heart conditions that present at birth, also called a congenital heart defect. Some people are born with changes in the heart and blood vessels. These changes can reduce blood flow and lead to sudden cardiac death.
There are definitely ways to know the signs that a person may suffer from a cardiac condition. Many times, sudden cardiac death occurs without warning or warning signs may not be noticed. Ask if a health checkup is needed for anyone who has:
Fainting, also called syncope. Fainting that can't be explained and occurs during activity or exercise, could mean there is a heart problem.
Shortness of breath or chest pain. These symptoms could be a sign of a heart problem. But conditions such as asthma also can be the cause. That is why it is important to get a complete health checkup.
Family history of sudden cardiac death. This family history makes a person more likely to have the same type of heart event. If there is a family history of deaths that can't be explained, talk with a healthcare professional about screening options.
As I've said above, no one should die so young. Unfortunately, in some cases, a person's health can't be controlled. Even if it can be medicated, anything can happen. There is no cure. The only thing a person can do is to be cautious with their actions.
Reference List
May, L. & Menon, S. (2024). Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Young People. [online]. Available from: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/sports-injuries/Pages/Sudden-Cardiac-Death.aspx (Accessed: 15 June 2024).
Mayo Clinic. (2024). Sudden death in young people: Heart problems often blamed. [online]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/in-depth/sudden-death/art-20047571 (Accessed: 15 June 2024).