Former Czech international goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek of Newcastle United fame died on Tuesday following a heart attack he had suffered while out jogging last week, his agent said. "It is with deep sadness that I have to announce the passing of former Newcastle United player Pavel Srnicek," Steve Wraith said in a statement on Facebook.
The 47-year-old Srnicek collapsed on December 21 while jogging in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava. He was found after 20 minutes and taken to a local hospital where he died. "Pavel... had been in an induced coma in hospital with his close family around his bedside," said Wraith.
"Despite the best medical attention the final brain scans on Monday showed irreversible damage and the decision had to be taken to switch off the life support machine." Newcastle United, where Srnicek spent eight years, said on Twitter that "our deepest condolences go to Pavel's family, many friends, former colleagues and supporters at this very difficult time."
Srnicek, until his demise the goalkeeping coach at Czech top-flight side Sparta Prague, played 49 times for his country after beginning his career at Banik Ostrava. He moved to Newcastle in 1991 and also played for West Ham United, Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday in England, as well as Brescia and Cosenza in Italy.