Young mother’s tribute after football tragedy

A DEVASTATED young mother, expecting her second child, has paid tribute to her “perfect boyfriend”, who collapsed and died while playing in an amateur football match.

Shaun Kelly, 20, was pronounced dead at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee on Saturday after he suddenly collapsed while playing for the amateur side Thomson Gunners during a Dundee Saturday Morning Football league match at the city’s Drumgeith Park. The exact cause of his death has yet to be established.

Mr Kelly and his girlfriend Lisa Hansen, have a two year-old daughter, Keiva, and Ms Hansen, 21, is expecting her second child.

Ms Hansen said: “It just doesn’t seem real. I feel like I’m the luckiest girl to have even had the four years I got to spend with the most perfect boyfriend and daddy to my babies.”

Mr Kelly had been playing against DK Raiders, a team of local dental students, when he collapsed during the match. Players from both sides tried to resuscitate him before paramedics arrived.

Zander Bell, the manager of DK Raiders, said the incident had shocked his players. He said: “It was absolutely devastating. Some of the guys were in tears afterwards.”

Steve McSwiggen, the league secretary, praised the actions of those who tried to save the young player’s life.

He said: “We are all devastated at these events and the thoughts of all teams of the league go out to his family and team-mates.”