A Spanish soccer coach who contracted the novel coronavirus while battling leukemia has passed away.
According to the New York Post, Francisco Garcia,21, was a youth team coach at the Malaga Club Atletico Portada Alta and found out he had leukemia after being hospitalized for experiencing coronavirus symptoms. He was told to visit a doctor after having respiratory issues and doctors diagnosed him with the coronavirus and pneumonia.
Medical officials say Garcia would have survived if he didn’t have leukemia.
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Club president Pep Bueno said he received a call about Garcia’s health and said he was in stable condition but it worsened within an hour.
“I do not believe it. It seems impossible to me,”
A statement was released by the club announcing Garcia’s tragic death:
“We want to express our deepest condolences to the family, friends and close friends of our coach Francisco Garcia who has left us, unfortunately. Now, what do we do without you, Francis? How are we going to continue conquering … in the league? We don’t know how, but we will surely do it for you.We will not forget you, rest in peace, phenomenon. Until forever.”
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The Independent noted in a report that Garcia is the youngest person to die of the coronavirus in Malaga where most of the patients are over 70 years old.
Currently, the global death toll is more than 6,400 and over 164,000 are currently infected by the virus.