16-year-old goalkeeper dies after being hit in the chest by a ball

A tragic accident brought mourning to the Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes community, in Maués, Amazonas, Brazil, when Edson Lopes Gama, a 16-year-old boy, lost his life after receiving a strong impact in the chest while participating in a penalty championship. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, January 5, around 1:00 a.m.

Edson, who played as a goalkeeper, stopped a penalty that hit his chest directly. In a video obtained by local media, the moment in which the ball hits the young man can be seen, who subsequently falls to the ground asking for help. Although witnesses tried to revive him on the spot, they were unable to save his life.

The situation was aggravated by complications in the transfer to the hospital due to the dry rivers in the region. According to Elisia Lopes Gama, the victim's sister, Edson arrived at the hospital more than 11 hours after the accident, at 12:15 p.m., when he no longer showed vital signs.

Elisia also mentioned that Edson had manifested chest pain in previous days, possibly caused by blows suffered in other tournaments. However, the young man had no medical history that indicated heart problems.

Edson was buried on Tuesday, January 7 at 10:00 a.m. in the community where he lived.

A local representative said: "It is a painful reminder of the unforeseeable risks that can arise even in sports activities."

Edson's family is still waiting for medical reports that officially confirm the cause of his death, although they suspect that the impact of the ball was the determining factor.