ROME: A 15-year-old boy has died suddenly while playing football in Cordenons in the northeast of Italy, near Venice, Italian news agency Ansa reported Thursday.

Giacomo Palazzi was playing with friends in the park when he suddenly fell to the ground motionless.

His friends, who initially thought he was playing around, tried to revive him and called emergency services but he died shortly after arriving at the Santa Maria degli Angeli hospital in nearby Pordenone.

He is believed to have died of a natural cardiac problem.

BDST: 1658hrs, July 22, 2010