Ex-Costa Rica international Gabriel Badilla collapses and dies running mini-marathon

Badilla suffers suspected heart attack 200m from finish as shocked by-standers say ambulance takes 20 minutes to arrive

FORMER Costa Rica international Gabriel Badilla has died at the age of 32 after collapsing during a 10km run.

Shocking video footage has emerged showing the 32-year-old lying on the road after suffering a suspected heart attack just 200m from the finish line.

According to reports Badill was on the ground for more than 20 minutes waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

Desperate attempts by paramedics failed to revive the former New England Revolution and Saprissa defender, who won 25 caps for Costa Rica and played in two CONCACAF Gold Cups and the 2006 World Cup.

Fellow runners and stewards gathered around the stricken athlete, who underwent heart surgery in 2013 and retired from professional football in June this year.

In the footage, an angry woman wearing a red shirt says to the camera: “This is incredible, we have been waiting for an ambulance for more than 20 minutes; this cannot happen.

“And this is not because he’s a famous person, it’s a matter of responsibility. This is an organised and sponsored race and it is not normal for an ambulance to take this long to get here!”

Then the ambulance finally arrived and paramedics began to attend to Badill but he is said to have died some 40 minutes later.

The video was recorded by El Expreso del Deporte journalist Luis Lopez Rueda, who was covering the race in Lindora, about six miles from the Costa Rican capital of San Jose.

It was livestreamed on social media and gathered over 200,000 views.

Badilla’s estranged wife Fabiola Herra Lara and their two daughters are currently in Germany.

Said Revolution president Brian Bilello: “We remember Gabriel as a great man, teammate, and player, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this difficult time.”