Shocking new details have emerged about the final hours of football legend Diego Maradona, who reportedly died in agony after his heart swelled to double its normal size due to years of drug use.
The Argentine icon, who passed away at the age of 60 in November 2020, endured a painful 12-hour death in a dark room, struggling to breathe as his heart failed, a forensic expert revealed during a trial involving seven medical professionals.
Maradona had been recovering at home after surgery for a brain blood clot when his health deteriorated rapidly.
His heart, according to forensic expert Carlos Mauricio Casinelli, weighed 503 grams—more than a football—and was covered in fat and blood clots, indicating signs of severe distress.
Additionally, four-and-a-half liters of fluid had accumulated in his organs due to acute pulmonary edema, caused by his heart failure.
The fluid buildup, Casinelli explained, had been forming over several days and was easily identifiable by any medical professional, raising questions about the adequacy of the care Maradona received during his home recovery.
“This is likely to take at least 10 days,” Casinelli stated, adding that the condition was foreseeable.
He further described the conditions in which Maradona spent his final days: a dark room with a bed and portable toilet, which did not seem suitable for proper home hospitalization.
Forensic doctor Federico Corasaniti supported these claims, describing how the fluid buildup would have caused Maradona significant difficulty breathing, a sound audible to anyone nearby.
READ ALSO: Spanish court overturns Dani Alves’ rape conviction on appeal
“It wasn’t a sudden event,” he said, reinforcing the argument that Maradona’s suffering was prolonged and preventable.
Maradona’s family has accused his medical team of negligence, claiming that his death could have been avoided had he received proper care.
His daughter, Dalma Maradona, has even suggested a “mafia” of corrupt medical professionals may have been involved in a cover-up. In a tearful interview, she expressed her fears about speaking out, but vowed to uncover the truth for her father.
Seven of the eight medical professionals involved in Maradona’s care, including his brain surgeon and psychiatrist, are standing trial for culpable homicide.
They deny any wrongdoing but face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Maradona’s death has shocked the world, and his family’s ongoing battle for justice highlights the painful aftermath of his passing.
Known for his incredible talent on the pitch and his turbulent personal life, Maradona will always be remembered as one of football’s greatest legends, but the circumstances of his death have left many questioning how he was treated in his final days.
