Umpire passes away mid-match due to suspected cardiac arrest in Mumbai

Prasad Malgonkar - Umpire passes away mid-match due to suspected cardiac arrest in Mumbai. (Photo Source - Twitter/X)

Mumbai-based umpire, Prasad Malgonkar, has passed away at the age of 60 during a tragic incident, where a heart attack took a toll on his life while he was officiating an Under-19 Bhama Cup game at the Sunder Cricket Club in Cross Maidan on Wednesday, April 16. Right after the tenth over, the match between KRP XI and Crescent CC at the venue, Malgonkar complained of being unable to breathe, post which he was rushed to the nearest hospital.

The co-umpire, Prathamesh Angane, confirmed that his colleague had complained of acidity before the game got underway. Angane further told that he had advised the fellow umpire to take rest, but he did not resist and continued to officiate.

“He [Malgonkar] was not feeling well, complained of acidity before the toss. I told him, ‘If you are not feeling well, please take rest,’ but he said he’s fine. Even though he was doing fine during the first 10 overs of the game, after 10.2 overs, he fell and was struggling to breathe. Then, Datta Mithbavkar, our MCA coordinator, immediately took him to hospital,” he was quoted as saying by Mid-Day.

“We tried our best to take him to the hospital as quickly as possible. With help from Ibrahim sir and players like Salman Khan, Barun Saw and Pravin bhai, we carried him on a charpai from the Sunder CC pitch to the nearby National CC, and from there got a taxi to Bombay Hospital. But I think he passed away before we could reach,” Mithbavkar told Lokmat Times.

He was brought in dead: Doctors

Upon reaching the Bombay Hospital, Malgonkar, who was registered with the Mumbai Cricket Association, was shifted to the emergency room, where his blood pressure and oxygen levels were abnormal, and heart rate showed a 'flat line' as per the doctor at the casualty ward. As a result, the doctor concluded that Malgonkar was brought dead to the ward.

“Prasad Malgonkar was brought into the emergency room, with undetectable blood pressure and oxygen levels. When an ECG was attempted, the screen showed flat lines. His pupils were dilated as well. He was brought in dead,” the doctor at the casualty ward explained.