Former Birmingham City striker Christian Benitez dies aged 27
 

Former Birmingham striker Christian Benitez has died at the age of 27.
The Ecuador international, who had been playing for Qatari side El Jaish Sports Club, spent the 2009-10 season on loan at St Andrew's from Mexican side Santos Laguna.
Benitez, son of Ermen Benitez, one of Ecuador's all-time leading goalscorers, won 58 caps for his country.
He returned to Santos Laguna in 2010 after Birmingham opted against a permanent deal for him.
Benitez, also known as 'Chucho', scored four goals in 36 appearances during his time in England and came to prominence during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
He left Santos Laguna for Club America, another Mexican side, in 2011 and joined El Jaish on 6 July.
More to follow.

So sad. RIP

shocked by this news.. the fifa legend, R.I.P

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/...z_1469894c.jpg

Only 27 years old... that's awful, rest in peace :(

They haven't revealed the cause of the death yet. Anyone think heart attack?

27!? /:

oh this is awful :( only the other day I was reading up on footballers who'd died on pitch (Marc Vivien Foe, Miklos Feher, etc.) and there's a really nasty and untraceable heart condition pretty much synonymous with them called 'hypertrophic cardiomyopathy'... so sad and horrifying. R.I.P. :love:

Cardiac arrest.

Really shocked by this.. He wasn't that good at Birmingham but was prolific everywhere else, poor guy

"Ecuador striker Christian Benitez died this morning after suffering a cardiorespiratory arrest, less than a month after signing for Qatari club Al Jaish.

Benitez was admitted to hospital with severe stomach pain hours after making his debut against Qatar Sports Club in the Sheikh Jassem Cup but died shortly afterwards. He was 27"

Trajic. RIP