Irish Independent

Police probing legend’s death raid home of Maradona’s doctor

- Julio Martinez

POLICE in Argentina searched the home and office of one of Diego Maradona’s doctors yesterday, taking away medical records as part of investigat­ions into the death of the 60-year-old soccer star that caused a wave of grief across the country.

Neurologis­t Leopoldo Luque told reporters after the searches that he had given investigat­ors all records of his treatment of Maradona, as well as computers, hard drives and mobile phones.

Weeping at times, he defended his treatment of the troubled soccer star, who died on Wednesday of a heart attack following a brain operation on November 3.

“I know what I did. I know how I did it.... I am absolutely sure that what I did was the best for Diego, the best I could.”

Dr Luque said he was not Maradona’s main doctor, but part of a medical team.

Court investigat­ors have been taking declaratio­ns from Maradona’s relatives, according to a statement from the San Isidro prosecutor’s office, which is overseeing a probe into the medical attention Maradona received before his death, which caused an enormous outpouring of emotion across Argentina and football lovers across the world.

Tens of thousands of weeping fans lined up to file past Maradona’s coffin, which lay in state at the presidenti­al palace, before his burial on Thursday.

Maradona had suffered a series of medical problems, some due to excesses of drugs and alcohol.

He was reportedly near death in 2000 and 2004.

Dr Luque said Maradona had been a difficult patient to work with and said he had kicked him out of his house several times.

“Diego did what he wanted,” Dr Luque said.

“Diego needed help. There was no way of getting through to him.”

 ??  ?? Tears: Neurologis­t Leopoldo Luque speaks to journalist­s at his home in Buenos Aires
Tears: Neurologis­t Leopoldo Luque speaks to journalist­s at his home in Buenos Aires

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