The 12-year-old boy had dreams of going professional before the tragic incident.
Stelj Charlottein dies after sudden illness (JAM Press)
A 12-year-old aspiring footballer collapsed on the sidelines during a game and tragically died after doctors were unable to resuscitate him. Stelge Charlotten died after a sudden illness.
Sterge began feeling unwell while watching his teammates play from the bench, and despite previously having no health issues, collapsed and died on the way to the hospital.
Her grieving father, Junior Charlotine, learned the devastating news when he received a call from the doctor, who asked him to come in immediately.
“When we got to the hospital, my son was already dead and the doctor told us he had died,” Junior told local media.
“He tried to resuscitate the heart but was unable to get it to start beating again.”
The elementary school student was the middle child in a Haitian family that emigrated to Brazil in search of a better life: His mother arrived in 2015, Junior in 2016, and Sterji and his brother in 2019, NeedToKnow reported.
Stelge’s parents were devastated (JAM Press)
The tragedy occurred on the morning of Saturday, July 6. Stergi played football every Saturday morning and had been playing for the Pratas da Casa academy for about a year. He had started playing football as a toddler and dreamed of going professional like his idol Ronaldinho.
“I would ask them, ‘What do you want to study when you finish school?'” Junior recalled.
“And he said to me, ‘Dad, I have only one dream: to become a great player.’
The 12-year-old boy dreamed of becoming a successful soccer player (Jam Press)
Stergi’s cause of death was recorded as “natural causes.” He was buried in Arroio do Meio on July 7.
The victim is survived by his parents, a 16-year-old brother and a one-month-old sister. The incident is not currently under investigation. Police Chief Giuliano Stobbe said: “There have been no reports of violence and some people have witnessed the sudden illness.”
