A goal celebration for a young footballer in India's Mizoram Premiere League went horribly wrong over the weekend when the player ended up injuring his spinal cord while performing somersaults, local newspapers reported on Monday.
Peter Biaksangzuala, 23, died in a hospital on Sunday after falling backwards on his head while attempting a series of continuous somersaults at Tuesday's game against Chanmari West FC, the Agence France-Presse reported.
"He was trying to do Germany's Klose signature flip stunt, but it misfired unfortunately," an unknown source said.
After scoring a 62nd-minute equalizer against the opposition team in a local match in Khawzawl town, close to India's eastern border with Myanmar, the midfielder was trying to celebrate the goal quite acrobatically when the mistimed fall occurred, placing most of the injury brunt onto his head.
As he lay on the ground in pain, unsuspecting team-mates jumped on him to celebrate before they realized the extent of the injury and quickly summoned a stretcher to rush him to hospital.
After spending five days at Aizawl Civil Hospital where doctors unsuccessfully attempted to repair his damaged spine, the sportsman's condition started deteriorating and he was eventually moved to an intensive care unit, The Times of India quoted hospital staff as saying.
In the early hours of Sunday, Biaksangzuala was pronounced dead.
Lal Hmar, a football official in Mizoram state, told reporters that the young footballer had donated his eyes before his death.
"Peter was a very talented player who dreamt of playing in the national league," Hmar said. "His death has come as a big shock to all of us. We all thought he will recover."
Meanwhile, Bethlehem Vengthlang FC has decided to retire the 23-year-old's shirt No. 21 with the Mizoram Football Association in memory of the midfielder, according to UK MailOnline.
"Bethlehem Vengthlang FC midfielder Peter Biaksangzuala lost his fight for survival after he suffered a fatal injury while celebrating his goal," a statement on their official Facebook page stated.
"It has been a sad day for Mizoram football and the demise of the footballer shook his team-mates, footballers and fans alike all over Mizoram. Peter was a defensive midfielder who had always been aggressive and hardworking, a true team player. Like most defensive midfielders, he was excellent at reading the game, breaking up attacks and protecting his defenders."
"Peter's club Bethlehem Vengthlang FC will retire his jersey no. 21," it added.
Bethlehem Vengthlang coach Danny Lalduhawma said, "Peter was a lad with good manner who always maintained his discipline on and off the pitch. I don't think there are many like him."