Tenerife forward dies after mid-air collision sparks medical review

Twenty seconds. That was the interval between Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel collapsing on the pitch and team medical staff arriving at his side. The 30-year-old player died Tuesday, a day after sustaining a cardiac arrest following a high-air challenge by Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono in a match in Spain’s second division.

The death has triggered a formal inquiry into the emergency response. Spain’s National Police opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter, a standard procedure for non-natural deaths. Investigators will determine if Owono’s challenge exceeded the normal course of play. The probe also appears to extend to the medical treatment De Miguel received at the stadium.

Gaps in the medical timeline have drawn scrutiny. Emergency workers reached the scene with a stretcher in less than a minute. However, it is unclear what care De Miguel received during the five minutes he lay on the grass before being moved to an ambulance. Conflicting reports emerged regarding where CPR was performed. Some Spanish media outlets reported that he received CPR in the ambulance and recovered a pulse, while others stated CPR occurred on the field. It remains unconfirmed whether a defibrillator was used.

Elvira González, president of Spain’s Association of Nurses, Emergency Medics and Caregivers, said her group is seeking clarity on the sequence of events. “We can’t say if they acted correctly or incorrectly, but we can demand that all the emergency procedures follow international standards of correct practice,” González told the Associated Press. She emphasized that CPR must begin from the first minute and that a defibrillator is essential for survival in the critical early moments.

Tenerife owner Rayco García acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the incident. Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser on Tuesday, García said he preferred to wait for the autopsy results before taking further steps. “There are those who say that the impact caused his death, and that later they were able to stabilize him artificially even though it was very difficult to bring him back,” García said. He added that the medical team followed protocol and was quick to reach the player, though he wants the investigation to reveal any details that could have prevented the tragedy.

García explained that the club’s medical service did not order the ambulance to enter the field for evacuation. Spanish soccer federation regulations require the home team to have a doctor on site and an ambulance equipped with life support, including a defibrillator, at the ready. La Liga did not respond to requests for comment on these protocols.

Owono released a statement through his club on Wednesday, describing the days as the most difficult of his life. He expressed immense pain over the loss of De Miguel and said he would face the upcoming matters with respect. De Miguel is survived by his wife and one-year-old daughter, who were present at the match. His parents traveled to Tenerife, part of the Canary Islands archipelago. The team plans to travel to the mainland for a funeral that García says is tentatively scheduled for Thursday in the central province of Toledo.

Fans gathered outside Tenerife’s stadium to leave flowers in tribute. Teams across Europe paid homage to De Miguel before Champions League games on Tuesday. The Spanish soccer community remains in shock as the autopsy and police findings continue to develop.