Argentina celebrations turn deadly after fan dies and boy, 5, is left in coma
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A 24-year-old Argentina fan has died after falling through a roof during chaotic World Cup celebrations in Buenos Aires.
Lionel Messi and the rest of the team had to be evacuated in helicopters after fans tried to jump on the parade bus from bridges above.
A five-year-old boy is also in a coma with a serious head injury after a piece of marble fell from a monument in Plaza San Martin.
Riot police were sent in to disperse the crowds after four million people took to the streets in the capital city.
The wild scenes were marred by the death of the young fan who ‘was jumping on the roof’ when it collapsed and he fell, La Nacíon reports.
An open-top parade through the city had to be suspended due to safety concerns after fans attempted to join the players on the bus.
Shocking footage shows one man successfully jumping from a bridge, landing among the players, but a second fan jumped too late, hit the back of the bus and fell to the road.
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Some of the footballers took selfies from their helicopters as they were rushed back to the national team’s training base on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
The parade was scheduled to last eight hours, taking the team on an 18-mile journey across the sprawling city, finishing at the iconic Obelisk, where most of the supporters had massed.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the emergency medical services in Buenos Aires, earlier confirmed there had been eight injuries.
‘So far, we have eight injured, some with arm and leg fractures, due to climbing traffic lights and different places where one should not climb,’ he said.
A statement from Argentina’s Football Association said: ‘The players of the Argentine soccer team ended the festivities by flying over in a helicopter over the crowd of fans who gathered in the city.
‘They made that decision after verifying that they could not continue advancing by bus in the middle of the crowd.’
AFA president Claudio Tapia said: ‘They don’t let us get to greet all the people who were at the Obelisk, the same security agencies that escorted us don’t allow us to move forward.
‘A thousand apologies on behalf of all the champion players. A shame.’
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