<p>Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens died yesterday, just three days after suffering a heart attack while playing for Lokeren's reserves, hospital sources told the Belga news agency.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The 24-year-old defender had been in a critical condition after collapsing on the field 20 minutes into a reserve game against Genk on Monday.He was given emergency treatment on the pitch before being taken to hospital where he was placed in an induced coma.<br /><br />Lokeren described Mertens as "modest" and "indispensable"."Suddenly something happens which makes us realize that football is just football. Today is such a time," said a statement by the club.<br /><br />"The desperation of everyone at Sporting Lokeren is huge. Gregory was only at the club for one and a half years, but in that short time (he showed) quiet modesty and was indispensable. Now we will have to learn to live with the loss."<br /><br />Mertens began his career at the country's most successful club, Anderlecht, but moved to Lokeren in January last year from Cercle Bruges.<br /><br />He had been capped several times by Belgium at under-21 level.Belgium suffered the loss of another young talent in January this year when 20-year-old Junior Malanda of German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg died in a car crash. </p>
<p>Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens died yesterday, just three days after suffering a heart attack while playing for Lokeren's reserves, hospital sources told the Belga news agency.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The 24-year-old defender had been in a critical condition after collapsing on the field 20 minutes into a reserve game against Genk on Monday.He was given emergency treatment on the pitch before being taken to hospital where he was placed in an induced coma.<br /><br />Lokeren described Mertens as "modest" and "indispensable"."Suddenly something happens which makes us realize that football is just football. Today is such a time," said a statement by the club.<br /><br />"The desperation of everyone at Sporting Lokeren is huge. Gregory was only at the club for one and a half years, but in that short time (he showed) quiet modesty and was indispensable. Now we will have to learn to live with the loss."<br /><br />Mertens began his career at the country's most successful club, Anderlecht, but moved to Lokeren in January last year from Cercle Bruges.<br /><br />He had been capped several times by Belgium at under-21 level.Belgium suffered the loss of another young talent in January this year when 20-year-old Junior Malanda of German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg died in a car crash. </p>