The doctor of the African star who sadly passed away on the weekend has now revealed that he was aware the tragedy could occur following a decision made by the player.
Former Levante, Real Zaragoza and Ghana forward Raphael Dwamena tragically passed away on Saturday, 11 November, while representing Albanian side KF Egnatia in a Kategoria Superiore encounter.
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The 28-year-old collapsed on the field of play and could not be revived after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest derived from a heart arrhythmia, which was first discovered during his time in Spain where he plied his trade from July 2019 to August 2020.
At the time his condition was initially diagnosed, the deceased player was urged to hang up his boots following the implantation of a pacemaker to regulate his heartbeat.
However, Dwamena decided not to retire and to continue playing football, and his former cardiologist Antonio Asso has since revealed that the ex-striker had later made the decision to have the pacemaker removed.
"A couple of years ago, they told me that the pacemaker had saved his life when he had a malignant arrhythmia that had been correctly treated, automatically, by the device. We had subsequently lost contact," Asso told Heraldo do Aragon, per Football Espana.
"A year ago, I learned from the press that he had requested the removal of the defibrillator implanted by us and that it had finally been explanted, I think in Switzerland.
"It was already too late, his decision was irrevocable and he placed all his responsibility on himself and on the will of the God, in which he believed.
"From that moment, I was aware that one day the tragedy that occurred on Saturday on a soccer field in Albania could happen."
Dwamena represented a host of clubs around the world in his senior career, which kicked off in 2013. He made a total of 196 professional appearances, scoring 98 goals and amassing 42 assists.
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He also featured eight times for Ghana, scoring twice.
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