Here’s a comprehensive 750‑word account of the tragic death of Patrick Ekeng during a Dinamo Bucharest match on May 6, 2016:

 Who was Patrick Ekeng?

Patrick Claude Ekeng Ekeng (born March 26, 1990, in Yaoundé, Cameroon) was a professional defensive midfielder.

He began his career at Canon Yaoundé before moving to Europe, where he played for Le Mans in France, Lausanne‑Sport in Switzerland, Córdoba in Spain, and finally Dinamo București in Romania.

He earned two caps for Cameroon in 2015, including an appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations (en.wikipedia.org).

 The Fateful Match

On May 6, 2016, during a league fixture between Dinamo București and Viitorul Constanța, Ekeng entered the match as a substitute around the 62nd minute, with Dinamo leading 3–2 (insideworldfootball.com).

Mere seven minutes later, he suddenly collapsed on the pitch around the 69th/70th minute (theguardian.com).

Live televised footage showed medical staff rushing to apply aid, and an ambulance arriving approximately two minutes and 47 seconds later (theguardian.com).

 Medical Response & Hospital

Ekeng was swiftly taken to Floreasca Emergency Hospital.

Reports indicate resuscitation efforts lasted about one to one‑and‑a‑half hours without success (theguardian.com). Tragically, he was pronounced dead around 2 hours after collapsing, the official cause being a suspected heart attack (bbc.com).

 Underlying Health Issues

An autopsy revealed multiple severe heart conditions, including cardiomegaly (enlarged heart) and left ventricular hypertrophy, making him prone to cardiac arrest (reddit.com).

However, prosecutors contended that had proper defibrillation begun within 60 seconds, survival odds would have been as high as 95% (bbc.com).

Allegations & Investigation

Serious concerns emerged regarding the handling of his medical emergency:

The ambulance was reportedly ill‑equipped, containing expired medication and lacking essential life‑saving tools (insideworldfootball.com, fr.wikipedia.org).

Reports also allege delays entering the field due to locked gates and protocol issues (reddit.com).

In June 2016, prosecutor’s office charged ambulance doctor Elena Duta with manslaughter, citing that she “made no attempt to resuscitate him” in the ambulance (bbc.com).

In May 2016, authorities suspended the ambulance operator’s license for 30 days and fined them 23,800 lei following internal inquiries (fr.wikipedia.org).

 Doctor’s Trial & Sentencing

After prolonged legal proceedings, in June 2020 a Romanian court handed Dr. Elena Duta an 18-month suspended prison sentence, along with 200,000 EUR in damages and 60 days of community service (bbc.com). Reddit users reflected on the controversy:

“No attempt to resuscitate him” is the wording of the article.

“The equipment on the ambulance was not working. … 90% of the fleet … didn’t have operating equip” (reddit.com).

This highlights widespread belief that Ekeng’s death was preventable had basic emergency protocols been followed.

 Reactions & Tributes

The football world and beyond responded with shock and mourning:

Matches across Romanian leagues were postponed, including the upcoming Romanian Cup final between Dinamo and CFR Cluj, which was moved to May 17, 2016 (bbc.com).

• FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the incident as “incredibly sad” and praised the affection Ekeng had earned (bbc.com).

FIFPro and Romanian players’ union AFAN criticized the lack of emergency preparedness, urging mandatory fully equipped ambulances at all matches (insideworldfootball.com).

• Ekeng’s number 14 jersey was retired by Dinamo as a mark of respect (bbc.com).

 Memorial Match & Funeral

Dinamo’s cup final in May 2016 included a minute’s silence, halted in the 14th minute as a tribute to Ekeng and his #14 shirt (bbc.com). Fans also unveiled massive choreographed displays featuring his image (bbc.com).

Ekeng’s funeral took place on May 15, 2016, in Yaoundé.

It was attended by former Cameroonian internationals and the country’s sports minister (en.wikipedia.org).

Aftermath & Safety Reforms

Ekeng’s death galvanized discussions on player safety:

• UEFA and Romanian authorities came under renewed scrutiny.

• Public pressure followed to mandate proper medical facilities, including defibrillators, at all professional matches (insideworldfootball.com).

• His passing recalled similar tragedies like Cameroon’s Marc‑Vivien Foe in 2003 (bbc.com).

• Though some improvements were introduced, football communities continue advocating for enhanced emergency protocols and widespread adoption of AED devices.

Final Reflection

Patrick Ekeng’s death remains a haunting reminder that cardiac screening and emergency preparedness are non-negotiable in professional sports.

Though he tragically had underlying heart problems, legal opinions suggest that the lack of swift CPR and defibrillation tipped the scales against him .

His legacy sparked meaningful reforms in Romanian football and underscored the critical importance of medical readiness.

Ekeng is remembered as a kind and generous teammate—a life and career cut short, but one that continues to impact the world long after the final whistle.

If you’d like, I can delve deeper into the legal case, how regulations have changed since then, or share more player tributes. Just let me know!