Egyptian cyclist Eslam Nasser dies of heart attack during African Championship in South Africa

Egyptian cyclist Eslam Nasser died of heart attack while participating in the African Continental Track Cycling Championships in South Africa on Monday.

The 22-year old cyclist was competing in the Elite Men's Omnium-Tempo race at the Cyril Geoghegan Track when he suddenly fell off his bicycle.

According the Egyptian Cycling Federation president Wagih Azzam, medics on the scene tried to provide immediate medical assistance but after prolonged attempts to resuscitate him he was declared dead.

The African cycling confederation decided to suspend all the events on Monday.

The Egyptian delegation may forfeit the rest of the events due to the tragic incident but the decision has not been made yet, Azzam told Ahram Sport.

Nasser was born on 4 December 1994.

He competed for Talae El-Geish club and a was prominent member of the Egyptian cycling team, winning the bronze medal in the Arab Championsips in 2013 and finished sixth in the African Continental Championship in Luxor in November 2016.

During the African Championsips in Durban, Nasser hoped to clinch the qualification for the 2017 World Track Championships.

Media reports in Egypt after the announcement of Nasser's death claimed that the cyclist had a prior heart condition.

However, Azzam rubbished all these claims.

"Nasser felt some pain a while ago and endured a full check up in several hospitals and medical centers; all the reports confirmed that he is fully fit to play cycling as his heart, brain and nerves were in perfect shape," Azzam told Ahram Sport

Source: Ahram online