Ecuador international Marco Angulo has died at the age of 22 after he was unable to recover from the injuries he sustained in a car crash last month. The young player spent over a month in hospital after being involved in a collision in Ecuador’s capital, Quito, on Monday, October 7.
Angulo, who won two caps for his country, underwent emergency surgery after being rushed to hospital following the accident.
His death was announced by his club side LDU Quito on Tuesday morning.
“You will always be in our hearts dear friend,” the club wrote as they shared the news on X (formerly Twitter).
And in a statement, they added: “With deep pain and sadness, we regret to report the death of our beloved player Marco Angulo.
“We extend our most heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Your match is an irreparable loss that will leave an indelible mark on our hearts. May he rest in peace.”
According to Spanish publication Marca, the accident occurred on the General Ruminahui Highway when his sister’s Ford Explorer crashed into the beam of a pedestrian bridge.
He was travelling in the car with four other people at the time, with Independiente Juniors star Roberto Cabezas Simisterra and Cuniburo Futbol Club ace Victor Charcopa Nazareno both pronounced dead at the scene.
Angulo suffered a fractured pelvis, right pneumothorax, cerebral oedema, subdural haemorrhage and post-traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage in the crash.
He underwent a decompressive craniectomy where 300 cubic centimetres of blood were removed to relieve the pressure inside his head. But he sadly wasn’t able to survive the accident.
Angulo, who played as a defensive midfielder, made his senior debut for Ecuador during a friendly against Iraq a week before the 2022 World Cup got underway in Qatar.
The player came on as a half time substitute to replace Jhegson Mendez, with the match finishing as a 1-1 draw. But he didn’t make it into his country’s squad for the tournament itself, with Ecuador exiting in the group stages, despite losing just one of their three matches.
Ecuador defeated the host nation 2-0 before drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands. But they ultimately finished third in their group following a 2-1 defeat to Senegal.
Angulo was then named on the bench for Ecuador’s 3-1 defeat to Australia in March 2023 but didn’t make it onto the pitch. He won his second cap four days later as a second half substitute as Ecuador defeated the same nation 2-1.
Angulo was also part of his country’s squad at the U17s World Cup in 2019. He started all four of his team’s matches as Ecuador reached the last-16 before losing to Italy.
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