An autopsy of acclaimed U.S. soccer journalist Grant Wahl revealed the 48-year-old died of an aortic aneurysm while covering the World Cup in Qatar.
Dr. Céline Gounder, Wahl's wife, wrote on his website that the New York City medical examiner performed an autopsy and discovered that he had an undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium that ruptured, which caused his death.
"The chest pressure he experienced shortly before his death may have represented the initial symptoms," Gounder wrote. "No amount of CPR or shocks would have saved him. His death was unrelated to COVID. His death was unrelated to vaccination status. There was nothing nefarious about his death."
DeCOURCY: Death of Grant Wahl is a blow to those who knew his work — and especially to those who knew him
During the week leading up to his death, Wahl wrote that his "body finally broke down on me," mentioning a lack of sleep, cold symptoms and pressure and discomfort in his upper chest. He said he went to a medical clinic and was told he likely had bronchitis.
Wahl was covering the Argentina-Netherlands World Cup quarterfinal match in Qatar on Friday when he collapsed in the press box. Reports stated paramedics gave him CPR in the press area and as they took him away on a stretcher, but that he died at or en route to the hospital.
Following Wahl's death, tributes poured in from across the world from those who followed Wahl's work, including from many of the athletes whom he covered during his career with Sports Illustrated and on his soccer Substack.
"On behalf of myself and our family, I want to express our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of support, love, and sympathy from around the world," Gounder wrote. "This continues to be a very difficult and painful time as we grieve a beloved husband, brother, and friend. It is some comfort to know that so many people Grant reached — countless colleagues, readers, athletes, coaches, friends, and fans — are grieving alongside us."
What is an aortic aneurysm?
Appearing on "CBS Mornings," Gounder explained that an aortic aneurysm is a ballooning of the aorta, and that it was something Wahl had likely been dealing with for years.
"Aorta, that's the big blood vessel that comes out of your heart, sort of the trunk of all the blood vessels. An aneurysm is a ballooning of the blood vessel wall, so it's weak. It's just one of these things that had likely been brewing for years and for whatever reason, it happened at this point in time."
The Cleveland Clinic says aortic aneurysms can burst, and that if they do, they can cause life-threatening internal bleeding or block blood flow to organs. It wrote that aortic aneurysms are four to six times more common in men than women.
The Cleveland Clinic wrote that symptoms can include dizziness, rapid heart rate, sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing, feeling full or pain where the aneurysm is growing.
