CatoCooper13
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21:55 AEST Wed Jun 30 2004
PAAIN - A 37-year-old soccer fan collapsed and died moments after England's dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat, his grieving family said.
Keen footballer and ex-serviceman John Freathy had been glued to the Euro 2004 quarter final against Portugal with his family at home in Ashington, Northumberland when he had a massive heart attack.
His family said there was no indication that the sports-mad father-of-four had a heart condition, and they would never know if the stress of the game had caused his death.
The brewery worker, who had two grandchildren, was a keen England and Newcastle United fan who was always active.
He had played for and ran two football teams, a Sunday pub side and Newbiggin FC in the Northern Alliance, playing in any position including goalkeeper.
Freathy had served in the Gulf twice during his 10 years with the Royal Ordnance Corps.
Paramedics were called but the Newcastle Breweries warehouse manager was pronounced dead in hospital.
©AAP 2004
That's what I called an extremely-dedicated fan!