Grant Wahl’s spouse reveals reason for dying in first interview since he died at World Cup in Qatar

Grant Wahl‘s spouse, Dr. Celine Gounder, instructed CBS News on Wednesday the famend soccer journalist died as a consequence of an aortic
aneurysm that ruptured. 

“He had an autopsy done here in New York by the New York City medical examiner’s office, and it showed that he had an aortic aneurysm that ruptured,” stated Gounder, an infectious illness specialist and CBS News contributor.

Wahl died on Friday on the age of 49 whereas in Qatar masking the World Cup. His agent, Tim Scanlan, had stated the journalist “appeared to have suffered some sort of acute distress in the press room” of the stadium throughout the quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands, when the 2 groups started taking part in in further time. Paramedics had been referred to as to the scene, Scanlan stated, however had been unable to revive him. 

Qatari officers stated in a press release that Wahl “received immediate medical treatment on site, which continued as he was transferred by ambulance to Hamad General Hospital.”

His physique was repatriated to the United States on Monday.

Tributes poured in for Wahl, from athletes like LeBron James to Billie Jean King.

Wahl spoke about his well being on his Spotify podcast Thursday, saying that he had contracted bronchitis whereas masking the World Cup. Scanlan instructed CBS News that Wahl had an “aggressive schedule” whereas in Qatar. 

A prolific journalist, Wahl wrote for a number of shops and was a CBS Sports contributor. He was an analyst on CBS Sports HQ all through the Qatar World Cup, and wrote visitor columns targeted on the U.S. males’s nationwide staff for CBS Sports. He was additionally an editorial marketing consultant for soccer documentaries on Paramount+.

Gounder tweeted Friday that she was “in complete shock” over her husband’s dying and thanked Wahl’s “soccer family” and their pals for his or her assist.

“To know that he was loved by so many people makes me feel a little less alone,” Gounder  stated. “It’s like a warm hug when you really need it.”