A 19-year-old football player has tragically died after battling a strange illness for several months.
Luca Manolache, in his last moments, heartbreakingly called his mother and told a nurse he felt like he was dying.
The autopsy revealed the young man’s death was caused by aspiration of his own stomach acid and a serious lung infection.
Reports also indicate he suffered a ruptured aorta, leading to internal bleeding.
His parents, Ana Maria Manolache and Viorel, are devastated by the sudden loss of their son.
Luca, who previously played for FCSB (formerly Steaua Bucharest) and Dinamo, was very dedicated to football and always wanted to play.
On February 28th, he became severely ill while with family. Ana’s godson called for an ambulance.
Ana, who was working in Bucharest, Romania, received a call from her son. He was scared and told her, “Mum, Mum, I can’t do it anymore.”
Ana also mentioned to the press that Luca asked a nurse, “Do you think I’m going to die?”
In the ambulance, Luca complained about losing his vision.
Ana rushed to the County Hospital in Târgoviște, Romania, where her son was taken.
Sadly, she didn’t arrive in time, and Luca’s sister informed her of his passing.
Doctors tried to save him, but his body reacted badly to his own stomach acid, leading to his death.
Doctors told Ana that her son’s death was extremely unusual.
Luca played as a midfielder for Metaloglobus București but hadn’t played since August 2024.
He had to stop playing because of ongoing issues with fatigue, dizziness, and chills.
His team and parents noticed he struggled to finish even half a game.
His coach initially thought Luca wasn’t preparing well enough.
In one match, an ambulance was called because Luca’s vision went black, and he felt weak.
He experienced convulsions and high temperatures, but lung x-rays and blood tests were normal.
A fitness test showed he could only run on a treadmill for 10 minutes before shaking and getting a fever.
Doctors suspected a strong infection and prescribed antibiotics, paracetamol, and pain medication.
Luca took these for a while, but repeated tests on his lungs, heart, and gallbladder were clear.
He was hospitalized for two weeks once as an emergency.
A doctor found some issues with blood vessels in his lungs, but it wasn’t considered serious.
He received injections and medication to prevent blood clots for six months.
During this time, he couldn’t exercise, and his parents sought private medical opinions.
His sudden death was a shock to his family and teammates.
Metaloglobus București paid tribute to Luca on Instagram, expressing their sadness at his loss.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic loss,” they wrote.
“His love for football and his smile brought happiness on the field.
“His last game for Metaloglobus was on August 24, 2024. After that, he complained of fatigue, leading to medical examinations.”
“Rest in peace dear ‘Mano’.
“Sincere condolences to his family. The entire Metaloglobus family is with you.”
Marcus Bellamy