Footballer who was set to marry dies on pitch in Wales

Mitchell Joseph, 32, died on the pitch while playing amateur football in Swansea

An amateur footballer who was set to marry died after collapsing on the pitch yesterday afternoon.

Mitchell Joseph, 32, was playing for St Joseph’s FC against rivals Malsters Sports in the Swansea Senior Football league when he fell down during the first half.

Players from both sets of teams rushed to administer first aid and paramedics were called to the playing fields. 

But tragically Mitchell – who was engaged to be married – was later pronounced dead at Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

Patrick Cullen, a St Joseph’s FC committee member, said: ‘He was a massive part of the club both on and off the pitch. Everyone at the club is devastated.

‘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.

Tragically Mitchell – who was engaged to be married – was later pronounced dead at Morriston Hospital in Swansea despite efforts from paramedics, nurses and players from both teams to save 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.

‘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.

‘Our condolences go to his fiancee Laura and the rest of his family.’

Jamie Elias, the league’s secretary added: ‘He was a stalwart of the league and everybody is very taken aback by it.’