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Footballer, 19, Passes Away As He Drowns In His Own Stomach Acid
Footballer, 19, Passes Away As He Drowns In His Own Stomach Acid
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Footballer, 19, Passes Away As He Drowns In His Own Stomach Acid

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A 19-year-old football player has died after reports say he drowned in his own stomach acid.

Luca Manolache was a midfielder for the Romanian team Metaloglobus București until August of 2024 when a series of worrying health incidents forced him to step back. 

He had started to suffer from prolonged fatigue, dizziness, chills, and bloody stools. Both his parents and fellow teammates noticed the change in his body and saw him struggling through the first half during a football match.

Highlights
  • 19-year-old footballer Luka Manolache died from drowning in his own stomach acid.
  • Luka experienced severe symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and bloody stools before his death.
  • Luka's final conversation with his mother was tearful as he expressed his fear of dying.
BP Daily - Your Source for Unbiased Reporting

    Luca Manolache, a former football player, died after drowning in his own stomach acid

    Young footballer in a blue and orange Metaloglobus jersey standing against a plain background.

    Image credits: manolache_luca10

    Initially, his coach believed he simply wasn’t preparing enough for each game. However, there was no denying Luca’s condition once his symptoms became so severe that an ambulance had to be called after the teenager complained that his vision went completely black. 

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    According to The Mirror, doctors dismissed him — but it appears that was the wrong decision to make.

    A first look at an X-ray of his lungs and blood test all came back normal, and experts believed he had been suffering from some kind of extreme infection. He was administered doxycycline, paracetamol, and algocalmin — a pain medication — before he was on his way again.

    But while outside with a family member on February 28, Luca began to feel unwell. The ambulance was called, and he made a quick call to his mother, Ana Maria Manolache.

    She told the local press of their heartbreaking conversation while she was in Bucharest, Romania, where she works.

    Young footballer holding a trophy, smiling on the field wearing a yellow jersey.

    Image credits: manolache_luca10

    Young footballer in casual outfit standing on an outdoor platform.

    Image credits: manolache_luca10

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    Fearfully, Luca reportedly said to his mother, “Mum, Mum, I can’t do it anymore,” before asking, “Do you think I’m dying?”

    The entire time, the teenager allegedly couldn’t see a thing.

    Ana did her best to get to County Hospital in Târgoviște, Romania, where her son was being transported to, but she unfortunately was not able to make it in time. Luca’s sister phoned her to tell her the heartbreaking news that he had passed.

    His last conversation with his mother was detailed just before his passing

    A 19-year-old footballer in a black shirt and white shorts stands beside a green, tree-lined pond.

    Image credits: manolache_luca10

    The autopsy verdict stated that the cause of death was that he had drowned in his own stomach acid.

    Luca had seemingly vomited large amounts of blood, which spurred his body to action, reacting negatively with his stomach acid. The illness that caused his death remains unknown.

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    His former football team, Metaloglobus București, shared a heartfelt statement on Instagram following his death.

    Two footballers compete intensely for the ball during a match.

    Image credits: manolache_luca10

    “We are shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic loss. His love for football and his smile brought happiness on the field. The last appearance in the Metaloglobus shirt was on August 24, 2024, in the match against CS Afumati, playing 10 minutes from the reserve position.

    “Following the game against CS Afumati, the player complained of fatigue during training, which led the technical staff to stop him from training and recommend thorough medical examinations.”

    They concluded, “Rest in peace dear ‘Mano.’ Sincere condolences to the grieving family, the entire Metaloglobus family is with you in these devastating moments.”

    It was a heartbreaking loss for the football community

    Tweet expressing condolences for deceased footballer, mentioning sadness and sympathy for family.

    Image credits: SteveMossFMAZ

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    Hungarian Football Xtra tweets condolences for deceased 19-year-old footballer.

    Image credits: HunFootballXtra

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    Tweet expressing condolences for a 19-year-old footballer's tragic passing.

    Image credits: lepanto2020

    Tweet expressing sorrow about the death of a young footballer.

    Image credits: Maryee

    Comment on a tragic incident involving a young footballer.

    Image credits: cdtwriter

    Social media reaction to tragic news of young footballer's passing.

    Image credits: Abster_1983

    A tweet responding to news about a young footballer's tragic death, calling it "brutal" with a broken heart emoji.

    Image credits: K3LLYB33N

    Social media post expressing sadness about a footballer's tragic passing.

    Image credits: ante_diluvian

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    Michelle Tian

    Michelle Tian

    Writer, Community member

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    Hi, there! I'm a newswriter at Bored Panda, born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University, as well as a philosophy minor. A few of my other hobbies include dancing, reading, cooking, or listening to a true crime podcast. My favourite thing to report on includes groundbreaking news in the field of science — particularly marine biology! I definitely didn't do well very well studying it in school, but being a journalist lets me live out those dreams in a different and exciting way!

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    Michelle Tian

    Michelle Tian

    Writer, Community member

    Hi, there! I'm a newswriter at Bored Panda, born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University, as well as a philosophy minor. A few of my other hobbies include dancing, reading, cooking, or listening to a true crime podcast. My favourite thing to report on includes groundbreaking news in the field of science — particularly marine biology! I definitely didn't do well very well studying it in school, but being a journalist lets me live out those dreams in a different and exciting way!

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    Multa Nocte
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    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought Bored Panda's purpose was that it "publishes articles about 'entertaining and amusing news'. " This is neither. This place is getting a little creepy with all its emphasis on death (500 articles on Gene Hackman's death, another 500 when Matthew Perry died, and 10,000 on sexual predators like Kanye West and Diddy). We are pretty much looking for pix of kitties and puppies and uplifting articles. THIS is why few people pay for the privilege of getting this in their homes. It is terrible that this child died, but the "ghoulish" vibe on BP is getting pretty strong. And then we can't use words like H I G H. Silly. Decide who your market is.

    TruthoftheHeart
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    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Please quit with all the sales pitch posts, deaths and celebrity news. We come here for happy fun stories and such.

    Janos Schumacher
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    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't get the point of this article. Doctors misdiagnosed a kid, prescribed wrong meds, ignored that, and kid dies on aspirated vomit that was full of blood. Basically, instead of a silly feel good story, we get, "Kid chokes to death on his own bloody vomit." With a handful of Twitter comments about how it's sad. There is nothing of value in the story except that bad doctors are bad and should feel bad.

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    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought Bored Panda's purpose was that it "publishes articles about 'entertaining and amusing news'. " This is neither. This place is getting a little creepy with all its emphasis on death (500 articles on Gene Hackman's death, another 500 when Matthew Perry died, and 10,000 on sexual predators like Kanye West and Diddy). We are pretty much looking for pix of kitties and puppies and uplifting articles. THIS is why few people pay for the privilege of getting this in their homes. It is terrible that this child died, but the "ghoulish" vibe on BP is getting pretty strong. And then we can't use words like H I G H. Silly. Decide who your market is.

    TruthoftheHeart
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Please quit with all the sales pitch posts, deaths and celebrity news. We come here for happy fun stories and such.

    Janos Schumacher
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't get the point of this article. Doctors misdiagnosed a kid, prescribed wrong meds, ignored that, and kid dies on aspirated vomit that was full of blood. Basically, instead of a silly feel good story, we get, "Kid chokes to death on his own bloody vomit." With a handful of Twitter comments about how it's sad. There is nothing of value in the story except that bad doctors are bad and should feel bad.

    Load More Comments
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