Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens 'suffers cardiac arrest during match'

Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens is reportedly in an artificial coma after suffering a cardiac arrest during a match.

The 24-year-old, who plays for Lokeren, collapsed on the field 25 minutes into a Jupiler Pro League match against Genk.

"The attack was finished and the referee went to see what was wrong," The Express quotes Genk communications manager Davy Vanhaen as saying.

"It immediately looked serious and he motioned to the bench. Then a defibrillator was taken out of the locker room and resuscitation initiated by the club doctor of Genk and the physiotherapist of Lokeren."

According to local newspaper HLN.be, Mertens is in an artificial coma in Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg hospital and is believed to be fighting for his life.

The defender has made 15 league appearances for Lokeren this season.