Grant Wahl Death Update: No Defibrillator Around State-Of-The-Art Stadium

As news of the death of 48-year-old soccer journalist Grant Wahl shatters the sports community, another journalist who was witness to his collapse has shared some details which have further created ripples. Wahl was in Qatar, covering the 2022 FIFA World Cup when he collapsed at the end of the match between Argentina and Netherlands. Here's what "Times" correspondent Josh Glancy had to say...

On December 10, Grant Wahl tweeted a football update, as the 2022 FIFA World Cup Quarter Final match between Argentina and Netherlands went into extra time.

This would be his last tweet, ever, and as soon after, Wahl collapsed.

John Glancy, a "Times" correspondent wrote that soon, "a panicked voice rang out from the press box" asking for a medic for Wahl, 48, who was "clearly suffering some form of attack or seizure" on Friday during the match. At the time, as Glancy recalls, a journalist with first aid training and two medics rushed to his aid, who "kept pumping" trying to keep him alive. Just minutes after Wahl was "tweeting excitedly about the game", his health took a downturn for the worse.

An ambulance arrived to take Wahl away and later the news of his passing broke. Wahl was only 48 and although he had complained about a few health issues, his brother Eric suspects foul play.

Note that Grant Wahl had been stopped from entering One World Cup stadium in Qatar because he was wearing a gay pride rainbow t-shirt back in November.

His brother Eric took to Instagram to talk about it, saying, "My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington, I am Grant Wahl’s brother. I am gay, I am the reason he wore the rainbow shirt to the World Cup. My brother was healthy, he told me he received death threats. I do not believe my brother just died. I believe he was killed, and I just beg for any help.”

Here's the video:

In the "Times" article, Glancy writes, "Why wasn't there a defibrillator? That was the question we kept asking each other, as the medics pumped and pumped to no avail.

He further wrote that Wahl received CPR for several minutes before an ambulance arrived and whisked him off, to no avail, wondering: "At this billion-dollar state-of-the-art stadium, which has a VIP suite so lavish it includes a bedroom, which will host the World Cup final, why was there no defibrillator to hand? Many minutes passed, and we kept expecting it to come. But it never did."

Glancy continued his poignant coverage: "On the pitch, the penalty shoot-out concluded. Argentina won. Holland lost. Who cared? The gloating of the Argentine victors seemed unbearably pathetic. The distress of the defeated Dutch, stricken in the center circle, somehow trivial and banal in the face of a widow about to receive the worst phone call imaginable. The magic spell of football had been broken. The only important thing was that a good man had inexplicably lost his life."

Just one day before his death, Wahl discussed his health as he felt he was coming down with bronchities, on a Thursday episode of his "Fútbol with Grant Wahl" podcast.

ESPN reports say that while Wahl said at the time he was doing "slightly better," he still felt that he was not at "100 percent". Wahl said, "My body told me, even after the U.S. went out, 'Dude, you are not sleeping enough,' and it rebelled on me. So I've had a case of bronchitis this week. I've been to the medical clinic at the media center twice now, including today. I'm feeling better today, I basically canceled everything on this Thursday, that I had, and napped."

On Friday, Dr. Céline Gounder, Wahl's wife, shared her sentiments in a tweet as she wrote, "I am so thankful for the support of my husband @GrantWahl's soccer family & of so many friends who've reached out tonight. I'm in complete shock."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino also released a  statement detailing his "disbelief and immense sadness" on Wahl's death as he wrote, "Only some days ago, Grant was recognised by FIFA and AIPS for his contribution to reporting on eight consecutive FIFA World Cups. His love for football was immense and his reporting will be missed by all who follow the global game. On behalf of FIFA and the football community, we express our sincerest condolences to his wife Céline, his family, and his friends at this most difficult time."