US sports journalist Grant Wahl died of natural causes during the World Cup in Qatar. This was announced by his wife Celine Gounder following an autopsy in New York.
Accordingly, Grant died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm (widening of the main artery) with a bruise in the pericardium. “No CPR or shock would have saved him. His death was unrelated to Covid. His death was unrelated to vaccination status,” Gounder wrote.
Wahl had collapsed in the media stand at the Lusail Stadium during the quarter-final between Argentina and the Netherlands. Rescue workers had still initiated life-saving measures and brought him to the Hamad General Hospital. Wahl died at the age of 48. The journalist himself had previously written on the Internet that he was in poor health.
Brother speculated on murder
Immediately following the tragedy, his brother Eric Wahl speculated that Grant had been murdered. “I apologize unequivocally,” wrote Eric Wahl, apologizing for the speculation. He no longer believes his brother was murdered.
Previously arrested for rainbow shirt
Grant Wahl was detained by security forces for 25 minutes ahead of the USA-Wales preliminary round match on November 21 for wearing a rainbow-colored T-shirt to show his support for the LGBTQI* community. LGBT is the English abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and punishable by up to seven years in prison.
