Elia Alessandrini is a professional soccer player in Switzerland, the central defender plays numerous games in the youth national teams. Alessandrini is currently active in the second division. He died in a diving accident while on vacation at the age of 25.

Swiss football must mourn a professional who died “tragically”, as the association wrote: According to consistent media reports, former junior international Elia Alessandrini died in a diving accident while on vacation in Oman. The cause of death was given as cardiac arrest. As the Swiss daily Blick writes, the tragedy happened in the presence of his girlfriend while swimming and diving in the pool, “a few hours before the planned trip home to Switzerland. Alessandrini no longer shows up, any medical help – even in the hospital – comes too late.”

Alessandrini’s mother Patrizia says to “Blick”: “He was the best son you can imagine. He was a good-hearted person who was never in a bad mood and always smiled. He was sunshine.” His current club said goodbye to his player on Saturday: “Captain with heart and soul, the red and white family mourns Elia Alessandrini. The stadium family loses a friend, a teammate and a role model for everyone,” wrote FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy Twitter.

Alessandrini, who played for a Swiss youth team for the first time at the age of 15, failed to make the big breakthrough in the elite Swiss Super League and most recently played in the second division. Again and again, Alessandrini was thrown back by injuries. “He wanted to play for a few more years, but he no longer had very big ambitions. That also has something to do with his injury history,” quotes “Blick” Jörg Dünkel, team doctor from Alessandrini’s youth club Young Boys Bern, who recently also personally told Alessandrini cared for. “Elia was thrown back again and again, but he never gave up, constantly fighting back. His mentality was impressive.” Ultimately, Alessandrini only played once in 2017 for FC Thun in the Super League. He last played for Switzerland in the 0-0 draw against England on September 4, 2017 with the U20 national team.

Young Boys Bern, where Alessandrini matured into a junior international, wrote: “We were stunned to learn of the passing of our former junior player Elia Alessandrini. Elia Alessandrini died suddenly at the age of 25.”