Experts involved in Diego Maradona’s autopsy testified on Tuesday in the trial of seven health professionals accused of negligent homicide, revealing that the Argentine football legend had an abnormally large heart, suffered from cirrhosis, and had no traces of alcohol or drugs in his system at the time of his death.
Forensic expert Alejandro Ezequiel Vega told the court that Maradona’s heart weighed about 503 grams, significantly larger than the average 250 to 300 grams. He also stated that Maradona had suffered from long-standing ischemia, a condition marked by reduced blood flow and oxygen supply.
Maradona, who led Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup, passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60. The autopsy determined that he died of acute pulmonary edema caused by congestive heart failure.
He had been recovering in a house near Buenos Aires after undergoing surgery for a hematoma between his skull and brain. Prosecutors allege that the seven professionals charged—including a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and other medical staff—failed to provide proper care, potentially leading to his death.
During the testimony, forensic expert Ezequiel Gustavo Ventosi confirmed that Maradona’s blood and urine tests showed no presence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, Silvana De Piero, another expert, stated that Maradona’s liver showed signs of cirrhosis, and his kidneys had compromised function with insufficient blood supply.
Among the accused are Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal physician, and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, who prescribed his medication in his final days.
SR
