Diego Maradona's heart was 'twice normal weight' as investigation into death continues

Argentine legend Diego Maradona cheers at fans during his first training session as coach of Mexican football club Dorados, at the Banorte stadium in Culiacan, Sinaloa State, Mexico, on September 10, 2018. [Photo by Pedro Pardo, AFP]

The heart of the late Diego Maradona weighed almost "double" that of a normal person's, according to reports.

The Argentine football legend - who had health scares after his playing career - died last week in Buenos Aires at the age of 60.

Maradona - who many consider to be the greatest footballer to have ever played the beautiful game - tragically passed away due to secondary lung edema, which was brought on by heart failure.

Tests are currently still ongoing to pinpoint precisely what caused Maradona's fatal heart attack and to discern whether or not the football great consumed any drugs or alcohol before his death.

And according to Marca, preliminary examinations of the former Napoli and Barcelona man's heart have found it weighed 500 grams - almost double the weight of a normal healthy organ.

Maradona's personal doctor - Leopoldo Luque - is currently being investigated by Argentine police, who are reportedly treating the footballer's death as a possible culpable homicide.

Luque - whose house was raided by police last weekend - has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to co-operate fully with the authorities.

"I was shocked when police turned up at my door," an emotional Luque said. "I'm going to co-operate fully.

An ambulance carrying Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona leaves the clinic where Maradona underwent brain surgery, in Olivos, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina November 11, 2020. [Reuters, Agustin Marcarian]

"I know what I did and what I did was for Diego's benefit until the last moment. I did the best I could.

"I feel terrible because a friend died. I don't blame myself for anything. It's very unfair what's happening.

"I didn't see Diego's daughters a lot but the rest of his family, his siblings and his nephews adore me.

"Someone is trying to find a scapegoat here when I don't see one anywhere. We all did the best we could with Diego."

"He punished himself in a way I wasn't going to allow, not as a doctor but as a friend," Luque added.

"I don't see good and bad people in all this. We all did what we could. But Diego was the most difficult one of them.

"You couldn't do anything if Diego didn't want it. He hated doctors and psychologists. With me it was different because I was honest with him. He was my friend.

"He should have gone to a centre of rehabilitation when he left hospital but he didn't want to. If I'm responsible for anything when it comes to Diego, it was loving him and improving his life."


 

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