Share
1 of 4
Lokeren announced the death of its defender Gregory Mertens on Thursday. The 24-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest on the football field during a reserve game on Monday. Francois Walschaerts/Eurofootball/Getty Images
The defender collapsed during the first half of a friendly game against Genk and was taken to the local hospital where he was in an induced coma. Nicolas Lambert/AFP/Getty Images
Mertens played his football in Belgium with Lokeren, which competed in this season's Europa League. He joined the club from Cercle Brugge in January 2014. Laurie Dieffembacq/AFP/Getty Images
He has been described as an "elit athlete" by the club's team doctor who said everyone was shocked by Monday's events. Laurie Dieffembacq/AFP/Getty Images
