Gregory Mertens, Sporting Lokeren Defender, Dies After Collapsing on Pitch

Gregory Mertens, a 24-year-old Belgian defender from Sporting Lokeren, died on Thursday, days after collapsing on the pitch during a match with the club's reserve team against Racing Genk.

Guardian Sport reported that the club had confirmed Mertens' death:

Sporting Lokeren later announced the news via their Twitter account (in Dutch), offering their sympathies to the family and friends of the player:

Mertens lost consciousness during Monday's match against Racing Genk and suffered heart failure. The defender received treatment on the pitch before being taken to the hospital, as reported by Sky Sports (via Fox Sports).

According to The Associated Press (via Fox Sports), his condition showed no signs of improvement in the past few days, and on Thursday, doctors took Mertens off life support, per Reuters (via the Guardian).

BBC 606 provided photos of teammates paying tribute to Mertens as they took the pitch for Friday's match: 

Everton striker and fellow Belgian Romelu Lukaku was one of many to take to social media to express his condolences:

So did another Belgian footballer, Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj:

Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the family and friends of Mertens.