One symptom is a loss in blood pressure. It's entirely believable that it can lead to a heart attack especially if there was some sort of problem already present. None of this we know until all the tests have been done etc. (and if details are made public). Other things include kidney failure and believe it or not cramp can kill if the muscle affected is your heart.



What we're looking at here isn't just a young man's career but his life was actually in danger. It's a welfare issue and to me it makes sense that if it's that hot the ref calls a halt to play regularly so that fluid can be taken on.



Once a player feels thirsty it's too late as they are already de-hydrated - they should be drinking regularly. If you're focussed on the game though it's not the first thing you'd think about though. Believe it or not I have come across otherwise intelligent blokes who at work refuse to drink so that they don't sweat. It's extremely dangerous.



At the play off final on Saturday the ref called a halt three times in each half and despite it pushing 40 degrees at pitchside and going to penalties I can only remember Peter Clarke going down with cramp.





It's common sense.

It makes sense to give refs the discretion to call for ad hoc drinks breaks, especially if its a low scoring game with few natural stoppages. Pre-scheduled drinks breaks might have the entirely wrong effect, players not bothering to take on water when they should because they know there will be a drinks break in 10 mins.