West Ham fan dies after collapsing at match as son issues public plea | Football | Sport

The son of a West Ham fan who tragically died has issued a public plea to find his father’s watch.

Having travelled to the London Stadium to witness the Hammers’ 2-1 victory over Wolves, Jay Gray revealed that his father collapsed and passed away during the match.

Sat in the Trevor Brooking stand, Jay’s father unfortunately died having had CPR performed on him after being moved away from his seat.

In the process of getting Jay’s father some privacy and finding room for the medical professionals to treat him, Gray’s watch went missing and Jay has asked for help in locating it.

“My dad unfortunately collapsed and passed away at the Wolves game last Monday night, he had to be carried up stairs from his seat in block 123 to be able to have CPR performed on him, his watch went missing when he was moved and we desperately want it back,” he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“Please can anyone associated with West Ham, as well as anyone else that wants to help get this sentimental bit of jewellery back to our family in this tough time please.”

Jay revealed that he also reported the missing watch to the Metropolitan Police but is yet to hear of any positive update.

It has been a difficult few weeks at West Ham, after striker Michail Antonio was involved in a horrific car crash that left the 34-year-old with various injuries.

Antonio suffered a broken leg after he was airlifted to hospital and is not expected to play for the club again this season.

“The most important thing is that he’s alive, he’s good,” head coach Julen Lopetegui said. “He broke his femur, but he’s going to recover for sure. He’s going to need time. It’s about time.

“Now it’s about time but the good news is that he has time because when you see the car was terrible, the accident, that’s why we are happy.”

Antonio’s accident took place just a few days before another tragedy struck West Ham, as 15-year-old academy player Oscar Fairs recently died from cancer.

Diagnosed with a rare 7cm ependymoma brain tumour in August 2023, Oscar had seven surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy before being placed in palliative care.

Having confirmed the heartbreaking news, sporting director Mark Noble said: “Oscar was adored by everyone at the academy.

“Not only was he a great goalkeeper, he was a true Hammer and a fantastic young person, who will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him.

“I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden – (my son) Lenny and his team-mates all loved him.

“He was a friendly, happy, well-mannered and polite young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him, and it is just so unimaginably devastating that he has been taken from his family and friends at this age.”