Doctor slumps, dies after watching Nigeria, Argentina match
A family physician, Dr Kennis Ebirim, of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA), has been confirmed dead after he slumped during the football match between Nigeria and Argentina on Tuesday.
The deceased was said to have been rushed to hospital after Nigeria was ousted of the world football tournament by Argentina.
Dr Chikere Ebirim, a lecturer in the Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), and younger brother to the deceased, expressed shock over the development.
He told The Nation: “We were together on Sunday with my dad. He used to have cases of heart attack but he was also on medication.
“This is so shocking because he was sound in health when he left Owerri on Monday morning for Abakaliki where he works.”
On the possible cause of the doctor’s death, Emele said: “Dr Ebirim has been a hypertensive patient who has also been on medication.
“As a patriotic Nigerian who is passionate about his country just like many of us including me, it is possible the outcome of that match may have triggered the confusion in his system, causing him to slump.
“I think an autopsy will reveal what exactly transpired in his system. When that is done, the exact cause of death will be made known to the public.”
“We thought it was a joke until we confirmed it on Wednesday. We feel sad because he was someone we trusted with the position of treasurer in the estate,” he said.
Ebirim is survived by his father, wife, four children and relations.
