The renowned journalist Susana Guasch has shared a moving story on the Lidera Foundation podcast about how she experienced the tragic death of soccer player Antonio Puerta, remembering the moment she witnessed his fainting while she was on the field.
Guasch, who at that time was beginning to cover games from the field, described how he experienced that event that occurred years ago.
In his words, Guasch revealed: “I was on the field, and at that time I began to cover the field and when the players arrived, we would have a coffee on the bench and of course I knew Puerta, and he was only 23 years”. This testimony shows the closeness that the journalist had with the players and the intimacy that was established in that environment at that time. Nothing to do with the secrecy that exists now.
The crucial moment came when Antonio Puerta faded. Guasch remembered how he walked past her, and how her editor demanded, yelling and rudely through the earpiece, that she place the microphone to get some words out of him. However, Guasch chose not to do so, highlighting his decision as an act of humanity and respect towards the situation and the player.
The journalist expressed her refusal clearly: “I thought there was no need and I didn’t want to do it, because I believed it was the most humane thing to do.” This statement reflects Guasch’s sensitivity and professional ethics in a moment of extreme tension and concern, which ended in the fatal outcome that we all know.
Susana Guasch’s story offers an intimate perspective of a tragic moment in the world of football, highlighting the importance of maintaining empathy and respect in delicate situations like this. Her testimony also highlights the ethical responsibility of journalists in the exercise of their profession, prioritizing human well-being above other considerations.
