Diego Maradona experienced “intense suffering” in the hours prior to his death, as stated at a court hearing.

The 1986 World Cup winner and one of the greatest football players ever, passed away in a house near Buenos Aires in November 2020 following a cardiac arrest.

He was 60 years old.

Seven healthcare professionals, including a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, and medical staff members, now face trial for manslaughter for failing to provide Maradona with the necessary medical care.

A post-mortem expert testified in court, stating that Maradona endured suffering for at least twelve hours before his death and asserted that “any doctor” should have recognized his symptoms days earlier.

Carlos Cassinelli, who heads the forensic medicine team at the Scientific Police Superintendency, detailed the post-mortem findings on the day of Maradona’s passing.

“The heart was entirely covered in fat and blood clots, indicative of intense suffering,” he stated.

Mr Cassinelli further commented: “This was an individual who had been accumulating fluid over several days; this is not acute.

“This was a foreseeable condition.

“Any physician examining a patient should have observed this.”

The post-mortem concluded that Maradona’s death was due to acute pulmonary edema secondary to congestive heart failure.

This trial could extend to four months, with weekly sessions of three hearings each.

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If convicted, the defendants, all of whom deny any wrongdoing, could face up to a 25-year jail term.

Among the accused is Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal physician for the last four years of his life, and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, who prescribed medication that Maradona was taking until his death.

Also standing trial are psychologist Carlos Diaz, the coordinator of the medical company hired to care for him during his hospitalization, Nancy Forlini, the representative of the company providing nursing services, Mariano Perroni, Dr Pedro Di Spagna, who monitored his treatment, and nurse Ricardo Almiron.

Gisela Madrid, a nurse also under indictment, will have her jury trial later this year.