The tragic death on the field of Raphael Dwamena caused a stir around the world. Perhaps it will serve as a starting point for stricter measures in the control of athletes, but also in the debate about who should make the decisions when the issue is related to their health.
In 2021, Dwamena decided to have his heart machine removed, citing malfunctions and causing problems with on-field collapse.
Before the complex and unprecedented operation in medicine, where, despite the objections of the doctors, he removed the automatic defibrillator so necessary to save him, in the Swiss hospital where he performed the intervention, the attacker signed a statement, according to which he "assumed all the risk".
Raphael was a fantastic person, I loved him dearly. But he didn't want to listen. There were many alternatives: to become a manager, football ambassador or coach. We have the best doctors in the world who kept telling him: 'please stop, it's too dangerous'. His heart was failing. He returned to the mine with the clock. However, we could not force him to leave football", said Philipp Degen, Raphael Dwamena's former manager.
28-year-old Dwamena wanted to play football at all costs. Brighton's 2017 heart problems didn't dampen his dream.
Not even the first collapse on the field, when he played on loan at Real Zaragoza in 2019, causing the Spaniards to break the contract. In 2020, the same measure of very high risk was taken by the Danes of Vejle. In 2021, the talented forward suffered another collapse on the pitch while playing for Austrian side Blau-Weiss Linz. Even in this case, the contract was canceled due to cardiac problems.
Dwamena removed the device in his heart and after more than a year off, he returned to play in the Swiss fifth division for BSC Old Boys, where he was paid between 200 and 400 euros. From January 2023, he became a player and captain of Egnatias.
Raphael Dwamena tragically passed away on Saturday 11 November 2023. His was a complex case, where personal convictions and decisions conflicted with the concern of doctors and the recommendation of health professionals. (A2 Televizion)
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