The Olival training grounds for FC Porto usually echo with shouts and whistles. But today, a different sound filled the air: the urgent wail of sirens. Jorge Costa, the football director for FC Porto, faced a sudden and very serious health scare. Correio da Manhã newspaper first reported the breaking news.
Things took a bad turn just after 12:30 PM. Costa had just finished speaking live on Sport TV. He was at the club’s training base in Olival, located in Gaia. Suddenly, he felt unwell and lost consciousness. His heart then stopped beating, a critical medical event known as cardiac arrest.
The FC Porto medical team reacted quickly. They rushed to Costa’s side without a moment’s delay. Sources told Correio da Manhã that a defibrillator was used to try and restart his heart. Soon after, emergency services arrived. Firefighters from Crestuma and a medical response team from Gaia were on the scene. Costa was then transported to São João Hospital. His condition remains very serious.
This isn’t Costa’s first serious health challenge. In May 2022, he also suffered a heart problem. That incident led to a hospital stay in Santa Cruz Hospital, located in Oeiras. The former central defender needed surgery back then. Today’s event brings back those concerning memories for many. It shows how quickly life can change, even for those involved in the demanding world of sports.
