Barcelona Doctor Dies Suddenly Before La Liga Match

Barcelona Team Doctor Passes Away Suddenly Before La Liga Match

March 12, 2025

 Barcelona's first-team doctor, Dr. Carles Garcia Minarro, passed away unexpectedly just hours before the team’s scheduled La Liga match against Osasuna at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. His sudden death led to the match being postponed.

The Spanish football club FC Barcelona is grappling with the sudden loss of its first-team doctor, Dr. Carles Garcia Minarro, who tragically passed away at the age of 50. His unexpected death occurred just hours before the team was set to take the field against Osasuna in a La Liga fixture at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The club is currently using this stadium as a temporary home while renovations continue at Camp Nou.

Dr. Minarro was found unresponsive in his hotel room at the Melia Gran Mel Hotel, where the team was staying ahead of the match. According to reports, he had retired to rest after completing his preparatory duties for the game. His passing sent shockwaves through the club, leading to the immediate postponement of the match.

Cause of Death Identified as a Sudden Heart Attack

Spanish sports publication Marca confirmed in its March 8, 2025, edition that Dr. Minarro’s cause of death was a sudden heart attack, a condition medically known as sudden cardiac arrest. This occurs when the heart abruptly ceases to function due to a failure in blood circulation, severely impacting the brain and other vital organs.

Heart disease is a silent but leading cause of sudden deaths globally. Often, individuals remain unaware of their underlying cardiac conditions until a severe event occurs. Atherosclerosis, or the narrowing of arteries due to plaque buildup, is a major contributor, leading to heart muscle damage and irregular heart rhythms.

Other contributing factors include:

• Enlarged heart muscles restricting blood flow.

• Congenital heart abnormalities.

• Heart valve defects or infections.

• Electrical system malfunctions within the heart.

• Deficiencies in essential minerals such as magnesium.

• High cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, smoking, and lack of physical activity.

• A family history of heart disease, particularly in individuals over 45 years old.

A sudden heart attack can lead to immediate loss of consciousness and, if untreated, death within minutes. Emergency response is crucial in such situations.

How to Provide Emergency Assistance:

1. Recognize Symptoms – If someone clutches their chest, collapses, or exhibits signs of distress, seek emergency medical help immediately. Ensure the person is in a safe, well-ventilated area.

2. Check for Medication – If the person has prescribed heart medication, assist them in taking it, but do not administer medication if you are untrained.

3. Assess Vital Signs – Check for breathing, pulse, and responsiveness.

4. Perform CPR if Needed – If the person is unresponsive and not breathing, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately.

• Positioning: Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest, between the nipples, and place the other hand on top.

• Chest Compressions: Using body weight, push down firmly, compressing the chest 5-6 cm deep.

• Compression Rate: Perform 100-120 compressions per minute.

• Rescue Breaths: If trained in CPR, after every 30 compressions, provide two rescue breaths.

• Continue CPR: Maintain compressions until medical professionals arrive or an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available for use.

By promptly initiating CPR, a bystander can significantly increase a victim’s chance of survival before emergency responders arrive.