The brother of influential US soccer journalist Grant Wahl, who died whereas overlaying the World Cup in Qatar on Saturday, says he not suspects foul play in his sibling’s loss of life.
Grant Wahl, 49, had a “death rattle cough” from a cussed case of bronchitis shortly earlier than he collapsed whereas overlaying Argentina’s quarter-final win in opposition to the Netherlands, his brother Eric Wahl mentioned.
Eric beforehand speculated foul play could have been concerned for the reason that soccer author was an outspoken critic of the Qatari authorities and obtained loss of life threats after carrying a rainbow shirt to a match.
But Tuesday, the brother wrote on Twitter, “The family will release a statement as to cause of death soon. I no longer suspect foul play. It was not [pulmonary embolism].”
Eric backtracked on an earlier tweet from Monday by which he mentioned, “It seems possible Grant experienced a pulmonary embolism & was in non-shockable state.”
He additionally claimed there was no transportable defibrillator within the stadium however then Monday issued a correction on Twitter, writing that “per a US gov official, FIFA is saying AEDs were available at the stadium,” referring to the units.
It’s unclear why a defibrillator was not used on Wahl.
Grant Wahl’s physique was dropped at New York City on Monday for an unbiased post-mortem. His widow, Dr. Céline Gounder, an infectious-disease doctor who works at Bellevue Hospital, introduced his physique to a metropolis health worker Monday.
Gounder on Tuesday shared a photograph with Wahl to Twitter, writing, “I miss you, @GrantWahl.”
On Monday, Eric shared an replace on the scenario, writing: “We are traveling with Grant’s body to the medical examination & autopsy.”
He added: “Thank you to American Airlines for their incredible help. Thank you to the NY Port Authority & the US government. Humbled.”
Grant Wahl made headlines on the World Cup when he was initially not allowed to enter the stadium as a result of he was carrying a shirt with a soccer ball surrounded by a rainbow in assist of the LGBTQ+ group earlier than a US and Wales sport.
— This story initially appeared on nypost.com and has been republished with permission
Originally revealed as Family reveals actual purpose World Cup journalist died in Qatar
