Former Pescara captain Andrea Camplone in intensive care after cardiac arrest during padel match

Emergency at Montesilvano sports complex

Andrea Camplone, the 60-year-old former professional footballer and captain of Pescara, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while participating in a padel match on the afternoon of 11 September 2026. The medical episode took place at a sports centre located in the town of Montesilvano. Camplone suddenly collapsed directly onto the court during play and lost consciousness. Fellow players and spectators present across the facility immediately raised an alarm, alerting emergency services. A physician who was present inside the sports complex witnessed the collapse and rushed to the court to deliver immediate medical assistance and initial resuscitation before emergency medical vehicles reached the facility.

Deployment of specialized emergency response

The single emergency response operating centre (Numero Unico di Emergenza 118) received the alert and simultaneously dispatched two emergency vehicles to the sports complex. The response units included a medicalized ambulance stationed in Montesilvano and an India-type ambulance arriving from Citta Sant'Angelo. Emergency medical personnel took over resuscitation efforts from the on-site doctor, following established emergency protocols for cardiac arrest. Paramedics deployed the Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (Lucas), a specialized automated mechanical chest compression device designed to deliver continuous, precise, and standardized chest compressions to cardiac arrest patients. Emergency workers then intubated Camplone at the sports centre before transporting him by ambulance under code red status.

Intensive care and surgical intervention in Pescara

Camplone was taken directly to the Spirito Santo civil hospital in Pescara under code red emergency conditions. Following initial stabilization and emergency care in the hospital emergency room, medical specialists performed an urgent hemodynamic surgical intervention. Following the surgical procedure in hemodynamics, Camplone was admitted to the hospital intensive care unit (rianimazione) for ongoing clinical monitoring and supportive care. Medical personnel reported his condition as stable while confirming that it remains critical, with the formal medical prognosis kept strictly reserved. Law enforcement officers were also formally notified regarding the emergency incident that occurred at the Montesilvano sports facility.

Professional background with Pescara and Perugia

Camplone spent a significant portion of his professional playing career at Pescara, recording 188 appearances as a right-back and serving as team captain. During his playing career with Pescara, the club earned two promotions to Serie A under manager Giovanni Galeone, first in the 1986–87 season and again in the 1991–92 campaign. Beyond his playing career with Pescara, Camplone also played for Perugia and later returned to manage the Umbrian club as head coach. The medical emergency prompted concern among supporters of both Pescara and Perugia, where Camplone remains closely associated with the clubs' sporting histories.