A 28-year-old man who was a football player and soon-to-be father tragically passed away after collapsing during a football training session with his brother. Maciej Białas had just completed his training and was visiting his twin brother when the unexpected incident occurred. He suddenly fell ill, collapsed, and lost consciousness. His brother, Mateusz, immediately began resuscitation efforts, and there was a glimmer of hope when Maciej’s heart started beating again after the collapse on Saturday.
Emergency services swiftly transported him to the hospital, where surgeons successfully removed a clot that had triggered a heart attack. Despite the restoration of his heartbeat, prolonged oxygen deprivation to his brain resulted in irreversible brain damage.
Maciej and his wife, Wiktoria, were anticipating the arrival of their child. Tragically, he passed away during the fourth month of Wiktoria’s pregnancy, without knowing the gender of the baby. Subsequently, it was revealed that they were expecting a son.
His final resting place will be in Gniezno, located to the east of Poznań, Poland. Maciej had played for various clubs, including Mieszko Gniezno and Kolejarz Czeremcha, a team in the seventh-tier.
Kolejarz Czeremcha paid tribute to Maciej, describing him as a son, husband, brother, colleague, and friend, emphasizing his exceptional qualities on and off the field. They praised his ambition, determination, and unwavering dedication during training and matches, highlighting his inspirational impact on those around him.
This news follows a father’s cautionary tale to travelers after his son tragically passed away alongside his two boys during a flight to Bulgaria. Chris Neill, 40, and his sons, Reece, 20, and Archie, nine, were en route from Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport to Burgas on September 16 last year when Chris fell critically ill on the airplane. Chris’ parents, Mal and Lesley, established a GoFundMe campaign to facilitate the repatriation of his body to the UK.
The fundraiser surpassed its initial goal, raising nearly £10,000. Mal disclosed that the surplus funds were allocated to a trust for Reece and Archie following the repatriation of Chris’s remains. Mal promptly traveled to Germany to escort Reece and Archie back to the UK, ensuring their safe return while attending to necessary procedures in Cologne.
Shortly after Chris’s tragic demise, Mal revealed that Chris mistakenly believed he had travel insurance through his bank, Halifax, which had unfortunately expired.