Goalkeeper, 14, dies after match injury
A TALENTED young footballer died in a “freak accident” after colliding with an opponent on the pitch.
Goalkeeper Luca Campanaro, 14, was knocked unconscious after suffering a blow to the head as he rushed out to challenge an oncoming forward.
The youngster’s family watched from the sidelines as Luca collapsed following the clash on Sunday afternoon.
He was airlifted to hospital but his family faced the devastating decision to turn off his life support machine after his injuries left him brain dead.
Luca’s grandfather, former RAF nurse Gerard Conroy, rushed on to the pitch in a bid to save him after tragedy struck during the Under 15 match in Hillingdon, west London.
Mr Conroy, 70, described Luca as “brave and fearless”, adding: “It was a genuine accident.”
The collision happened as 6ft Luca, who had trained with League One team Wycombe Wanderers’ youth side, was playing for Bedgrove Dynamos in an away cup match against Harefield United.
His father Americo, who is coach of the team, and 40-year-old mother Joanne were at the game.
Mr Campanaro, 41, said: “Luca came out of the area to stop a one-on-one. He couldn’t use his hands so went in with his feet and took a hefty knock to the head. He has done that challenge 100 times.
“It was brave of him. But I could tell from his reaction straight away that something was horribly wrong. I feel sorry for the other lad and for all the boys who had to witness it.”
Mr Campanaro – who has a 12-year-old son Santino – said: “Luca dreamed of being a goalkeeper. He died doing what he loved.”
Luca was a Year 10 pupil at Mandeville School in the family’s home town of Aylesbury. His family said his organs had been donated so that “four lives are going to be saved because of Luca”.