The devastated fiancee of a footballer who collapsed on the pitch and died has been left struggling to pay off their £60,000 mortgage after he was refused life insurance.
Mitchell Joseph’s family and friends were stunned when he collapsed 30 minutes into his team’s game on Saturday.
The 33-year-old was rushed to hospital where doctors battled for two hours to save him.
But since his sudden death, it has emerged he was diagnosed with a heart murmur last year, and despite undergoing corrective surgery, was denied life insurance.
He and his bride-to-be Laura Davies had been planning their wedding in Ibiza on September 18 next year and had visited the island to find a venue, which they had booked together.
Mitchell Joseph’s family and friends were left devastated after he collapsed 30 minutes into his team’s game on Saturday. He is pictured with his now grieving fiancee Laura Davies
But now with their home still left to pay for, a grieving Miss Davies has been left with a huge financial burden while trying to cope with her loss.
A crowdfunding page has been set up to help her out and has already raised £8,000 in the first 24 hours.
Mr Joseph, a full-back with St Joseph’s AFC in Swansea, Wales, collapsed approximately 30 minutes into the side’s game against Maltsters Sports last week.
He was treated at the scene, then rushed to Morriston Hospital in Swansea where doctors spent two hours trying in vain to revive him.
His fiancee discovered the news after receiving a telephone call from one of his close friends.
She rushed to the fields and found ambulance and air ambulance crews on the scene, before following on to the Hospital, where she said he received 30 defibrillator shocks.
Since his sudden death, it has emerged he was diagnosed with a heart murmur last year, and despite undergoing corrective surgery, was denied life insurance, leaving Miss Davies struggling to pay off the rest of their £60,000 mortgage
The fundraising page reads: ‘We want to raise £60,000 to help pay off Mitchell and Laura’s mortgage, something which would have been sorted if his life insurance policy was accepted.
‘We realise this sounds ambitious, but we’ve already seen an unimaginable amount of donations and all we need is 2000 people, that’s less that one per cent of the population of Swansea to donate just £30.
‘This will change Laura’s future forever and be a lasting legacy for Mitchell and his family.
‘We can’t make her dream of marrying the man she loved come true.
‘But we can ensure she doesn’t have to suffer even more than she already has.’
Patrick Cullen, a St Joseph’s FC committee member, paid tribute to him, saying: ‘He was a massive part of the club both on and off the pitch.
‘Everyone at the club is devastated.
A crowdfunding page has been set up to help her pay off their home and has already raised £8,000 in the first 24 hours. The couple are pictured together on holiday
‘Mitchell collapsed on the pitch when no-one was around him.
‘Our goalkeeper Alex Davies performed CPR and Terry Smith, who is in his eighties and has followed the club for years, performed mouth-to-mouth in a bid to resuscitate him.
‘There was also a female nurse called Chris who came running over from the rugby pitch to try to help.
‘I think without their help we would have lost him on the pitch.
‘Mitchell was a very, very popular man. It always surprised me how many different groups of people he knew.
‘He was well known by lots of different groups of people around Swansea, and he was very well respected.
‘He was a fit, handsome man, and fun-loving – he was always great fun at parties.
‘The messages we’ve had off other teams in Swansea have been incredible and nearly every team has offered to donate money to cover the funeral costs.’
A collection is also being held outside the Liberty Stadium before the 8pm kick off against Liverpool on Monday night.
One of his football team’s committee members described him (pictured) as ‘a massive part of the club both on and off the pitch’