Heart attack claims Ecuador star

Christian Benitez, who played for Birmingham City in the Premier League, has tragically died at the age of 27 after suffering a heart attack.

A summer transfer target for Tottenham, the Ecuador striker had only completed a £10million switch to Qatari side El Jaish from Mexican team Club America a few weeks ago.

The Ecuadorian Football Federation said on their website that Benitez 'had severe stomach pain and was rushed to a hospital, where after a few hours, he suffered cardio respiratory arrest, which ended his life.'

They added: 'The Ecuadorian Football Federation extends its heartfelt note of sympathy to the family members, parents, wife, children and friends of our striker Cristian Benitez.'