Indian footballer dies after colliding with opposition goalkeeper in local game

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW DELHI — Indian media reports say a football player in the eastern city of Jalpaiguri has died after failing to receive medical attention following a collision with the opposition goalkeeper in a local match.

The Indian Express reported Tuesday that 27-year-old Mahesh Thapa, who was playing for Raikatpara Sports Association against Bhanu Nagar at a remote ground in the city, died after being refused admission to three hospitals because no beds were available.

The report said Thapa was ferried between hospitals on a motorcycle as no ambulance was available.

This is the second football-related death in India within four months.

A Bangalore player, D. Venkatesh, died in March after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field. No ambulance was available and Venkatesh was taken to hospital in a three-wheel auto-rickshaw..

02:30ET 10-07-12