SPORTS/OLYMPICS> Off the Field
Croatian fan dies before Germany match - report
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-13 10:26

KLAGENFURT - A Croatian fan died Thursday of an apparent heart attack just hours before his team beat Group B rivals Germany 2-1 at Euro 2008.

According to the Austria Press Agency, the young man collapsed in a fan zone in the southern Austrian city of Klagenfurt, the venue for the Germany versus Croatia match.

Police did not identify the victim in keeping with regular Austrian practice but a spokesman said that he appeared to be about 20 years old.

APA said that a police officer trained in first-aid techniques was able to revive the victim at the scene but he sadly died later in the hospital, just before the opening whistle.

Fan zones have been set up in all the host cities in Austria and neighbouring Switzerland in an effort to provide supporters from all over Europe an area where they can watch the games on wide-screen monitors amongst the carnival-like atmosphere.