A 28-year-old Norwegian citizen and player for the Panthers Wroclaw American football team lost his life on Friday night following an altercation with local police. Leo Kraft’s untimely death has sent shockwaves through the sports community, leaving many questioning the circumstances that led to this tragic incident.
According to the Wroclaw police department in western Poland, the chain of events unfolded when they received reports of a disturbance in one of the housing complexes late in the evening. Responding officers encountered Leo Kraft, who reportedly exhibited signs of intoxication and agitation. Kraft, a key member of the Panthers Wroclaw team, admitted to using narcotics and consuming alcohol. He also indicated the location of the methamphetamine and marijuana.
As the situation escalated, the police informed Kraft that he would be detained due to the illegal possession of drugs in Poland. In response, Kraft’s demeanour turned aggressive, prompting the officers to use necessary force to subdue him. After being handcuffed, concerns grew about his psychophysical state and breathing difficulties. Fearing for his safety, the officers called for medical assistance.
Paramedics arrived at the scene and, after assessing Kraft’s condition, decided to administer sedatives to alleviate his agitation. Tragically, shortly after receiving the sedatives, Kraft’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He lost consciousness and efforts to resuscitate him were initiated immediately. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, Kraft’s life could not be saved.
Wojciech Jablonski from the Wroclaw police confirmed the heartbreaking news, stating that Kraft was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his condition after more than an hour of resuscitation attempts. An investigation into the incident has been launched, and the prosecutor’s office has announced that an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of Kraft’s death.