An autopsy on acclaimed American soccer journalist Grant Wahl has revealed the 48-year-old died of an arterial aneurysm while covering the World Cup in Qatar.
Dr. Celine Gounder, Wahl’s wife, wrote on her website that the New York City medical examiner performed an autopsy and found that he had an undiagnosed ascending aortic aneurysm that ruptured the hemopericardium, causing his death.
“The chest tightness he experienced shortly before death may have represented early symptoms,” Gounder wrote. “No amount of CPR or shock could have saved him. His death was not related to Covid. His death was not related to vaccination status. There was nothing untoward about his death.”
In the weeks leading up to her death, Wahl wrote that her “body finally broke down on me,” citing lack of sleep, cold symptoms, and pressure and discomfort in her upper chest. He said he went to a medical clinic and was told he had bronchitis.
Wahl collapsed in the press box while covering the World Cup quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands in Qatar on Friday. Reports said paramedics gave him CPR in the press area and they took him to a stretcher, but he died at the hospital or on the way.
After Wahl’s death, tributes poured in from around the world from followers of Wahl’s work, including many of the athletes he covered during his career in Sports Illustrated and his football substack.
“On behalf of myself and our family, I would like to express our deepest gratitude for the support, love and sympathy from all over the world,” Gounder wrote. “This continues to be a very difficult and painful time as we mourn a beloved husband, brother and friend. It is comforting to know that so many people — countless colleagues, readers, players, coaches, friends, and fans — are grieving with us. .”
What is an aortic aneurysm?
Appearing on “CBS Mornings,” Gounder explained that an aortic aneurysm is ballooning of an artery and that it’s something Wahl has been dealing with for years.
“The aorta, that’s the big blood vessel that comes out of your heart, like the trunk of all blood vessels. An aneurysm is a ballooning of the artery wall, so it’s weakened. It’s just one of these that’s ever happened. Over the years and for whatever reason, it happened at this time. .”
The Cleveland Clinic says that aortic aneurysms can rupture, and if they do, it can cause life-threatening internal bleeding or cut off blood flow to organs. It states that aortic aneurysm is four to six times more common in men than women.
The Cleveland Clinic writes that symptoms can include dizziness, fast heartbeat, sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, feeling full or pain where the aneurysm is growing.