Footballer Dragos Huiban’s father dies following heart attack after match
A Romanian top-flight footballer is mourning the death of his father, who suffered a fatal heart attack in a stadium car park shortly after watching him play. Gheorghe Huiban, 78, collapsed outside the Otelul Galati ground on Saturday 2 May, shortly after his son Dragos had featured in Metaloglobus Bucuresti’s 2-2 draw, reports BritPanorama.
The retired school headmaster had travelled from Barlad with family members to support his son and was waiting for Dragos to complete his post-match duties when he became unwell.
Emergency responders were alerted and attempted to revive Gheorghe for approximately 45 minutes, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. Medical staff confirmed that a heart attack was the cause of death.
Following the final whistle, Gheorghe waited in the car park for his son. Tragically, he collapsed before Dragos could reach him. Reports indicate that he had previously suffered a stroke eight years ago.
Metaloglobus manager Florin Bratu described the distressing scenes following the match. “Huiban’s father was at the match with his family, and after the match, in the stadium car park, he waited for Dragos to come from the dressing room,” he recounted. “He suddenly felt unwell and collapsed.” Bratu noted that while emergency services intervened swiftly, their resuscitation methods were unsuccessful.
Players from both Metaloglobus and Otelul Galați witnessed the attempts to revive Gheorghe. Bratu remarked on the shock felt by everyone involved, stating, “We are all with Dragos.” Following the incident, Dragos chose to stay in Galati with his family rather than return to Bucharest with his teammates.
The forward, who began his career at FCM Bacau, has made a significant impact at Metaloglobus since signing for them in 2022. Despite the team’s challenges, he is the club’s second-highest scorer with six league goals and an additional strike in the Romanian Cup.
Having experienced a personal tragedy, Dragos has not yet spoken publicly about his father’s sudden death. Meanwhile, Metaloglobus faced another setback earlier this month, being relegated after a disappointing season with just two victories out of 30 matches.
As the football community grapples with this sorrowful news, it serves as a poignant reminder of the human aspects behind the sport, where familial ties intertwine with the pressures of competition, highlighting how life can shift in an instant.
