07 August 2020

Basketball player Michael Ojo dies after heart attack in training, aged 27

Basketball player Michael Ojo has died in hospital after suffering a heart attack while training, aged 27.

The Nigerian-American athlete, who played for Serbian team Crvena Zvezda, was said to have collapsed while at the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade, according to local media.

Ojo only turned professional back in 2017 (Imago/PA Images)

He was rushed to the emergency centre and resuscitation was carried out by he could not be saved.

After playing for Floria State, Ojo turned professional in Serbia in 2017 when he signed for Kosarkaski klub FMP.

The 7ft 1in giant then moved on to Crvena Zvezda just a year later and would go on to win the Adriatic League title with them - the top division championship.

Tributes came pouring in for Ojo on social media:

The sadness felt across the Basketball community comes less than eight months after the sport was left mourning the death of legend Kobe Bryant.

Bryant was killed along with seven others in a helicopter crash, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

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