Two Argentine football fans died from heart attacks during their nation's World Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out with the Netherlands, it has emerged. Erik Tench, 16, and Gustavo Daniel Hofer, 49, both suffered deadly cardiac arrests as they watched their team dump the Dutch side out of the tournament after a tense match on Wednesday night.
The win sparked wild celebrations across Argentina, that began to warm up when goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved Holland's first spot-kick from Ron Vlaar.
Wild celebrations: There were wild celebrations across Argentina when their national team dumped Holland out of the World Cup in a tense penalty shootout on Wednesday night Tench collapsed in the town square of La Banda, in the northern province of Santiago del Estero, where authorities had installed a gigantic screen so citizens could watch the match, reports Clarin. Police sources said he was rushed to hospital, but was declared dead on arrival.
'In extra time he said he wasn't feeling well, that he was nervous, but because we were all suffering like that due to the game we just laughed,' a friend told the newspaper. 'We thought he was OK,' he added.
Passion: Gustavo Daniel Hofer (not pictured), 49, also died shortly after the game when he suffered a heart attack in the central city of Marcos Juarez while celebrating the historic victory
A little more than 700km away, in Marcos Juarez, Hofer also died shortly after the game. The newspaper distributor suffered a fatal heart attack in the central city while celebrating the historic victory as fans ran through the streets cheering their side's historic victory.
The country erupted into a fever of celebration after the Argentinian side finally saw off their Dutch rivals 4-2 on penalties after a nervy 0-0 draw in Sao Paulo. Holland's shootout went from bad to worse as Ron Vlaar was unable to convert the first penalty thanks to a reflex save by Sergio Romero. Then Wesley Sneijder compounded his side's woes by missing his spot kick moments later.
Argentina, meanwhile, scored all four penalties to secure their place in the World Cup final against Germany in the Maracana Stadium on Sunday.
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