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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Lawrence Ostlere

Michael Ojo dead: Nigerian-American basketball player dies aged 27 after heart attack in training

Michael Ojo, centre wearing white, moved to Serbia from Florida State (Picture: AP)

Michael Ojo, a 27-year-old Nigerian-American basketball player, has died after suffering a heart attack during a training session.

Ojo, who plays for Serbian team Crvena Zvezda, collapsed at the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade and was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

His team tweeted: “With big sadness BC Crvena zvezda inform that our former player Michael Ojo passed away in Belgrade.

He was 27 years old. Great member of our club, champion, great teammate, great man… Rest in peace, Michael.”

Ojo represented Florida State University as a college senior before heading to Serbia to pursue a professional career.

He was well known for his towering stature at 7ft 1in tall, and Nike reportedly invested spent thousands of dollars on a machine to create a shoe which fitted his US size 21 feet.

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