COLOMBIA sensation Linda Caicedo collapsed AGAIN – just three days after her training ground scare.
Physios raced onto the pitch after the 18-year-old hit the deck as concerned team-mates watched on in the Women’s World Cup clash.
Medics raced onto the pitch to tend to Linda Caicedo after her latest collapseReuters
EPALinda Caicedo collapsed for the second time this week in Colombia’s 2-1 win over Germany[/caption]
EPALinda Caicedo fell to the turf in training earlier this week and again late in the 2-1 win over Germany[/caption]
Earlier this week, Caicedo fell to the floor in training with reports claiming it was down to a lack of sleep and the soaring Australian temperatures.
The Real Madrid star dropped to her hands and knees in the 83rd minute of Colombia’s 2-1 win against Germany before laying completely flat on her front as she received treatment.
She was eventually helped to her feet and made her way to the sidelines.
But rather than subbing her off, the teen was remarkably allowed to carry on playing.
She was eventually replaced by Marcela Restrepo in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Caicedo hit a 52nd-minute wonder goal to put Colombia 1-0 up in Sydney.
Alexandra Popp’s 89th-minute penalty levelled before Manuela Vanegas’ headed winner sparked bedlam in the 97th minute.
Caicedo was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 15 in February 2020, just before the pandemic struck.
She needed surgery to remove a tumour and underwent six months of chemotherapy before she was able to return to the football pitch.
The teenager scored in Colombia’s tournament curtain-raiser against South Korea.
But she suffered a scare during a training on Thursday.
Caicedo was running with the ball on a dribble when she suddenly stopped and began clutching the left side of her chest.
She then tried to sit down but within seconds had keeled over, seemingly unconscious.
Colombian medical staff rushed over as a sense of panic overwhelmed the camp, with terrified team-mates fearing the worst.
With concern growing, an ambulance was summoned and swiftly arrived.
Caicedo was unconscious for at least 90 seconds as medics and team-mates rushed to the scene.
Thankfully, Caicedo was able to regain consciousness by the time she was placed on a stretcher, ferried into the ambulance and off to a local hospital.
The entire session was unsurprisingly cancelled as team-mates looked on, some of them struggling to contain their emotions at her condition.
Media at the session were immediately asked to leave the site, with Colombian staff explaining: “We cannot give any more details – and we want to avoid any more confusion.”
Later that night, a Colombian FA medical staff member claimed: “Linda is very tired.
“What happened was just a symptom of all the stress and physical demands. She is well and all is back to normal.”