‘Criminal idiocy’: Diego Maradona’s lawyer details troubling final hours

Two of Diego Maradona’s closest confidants have blasted his medical treatment as “criminal idiocy” and demanded an investigation into his death.

Diego Maradona's lawyer and doctor are upset with how he was treated. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)

Diego Maradona’s long-term doctor and lawyer have criticised the Argentine legend’s medical care before his death.

Maradona, 60, suffered a heart attack at his home in a private residential estate in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, where he had been living since having brain surgery two weeks ago.

In a stinging statement released on Thursday night, lawyer Matias Morla claimed the first ambulance took half an hour to arrive as attempts to revive the football great failed.

Morla branded the delay “criminal idiocy”.

“Today is a day of deep pain, sadness and reflection,” he wrote.

“I feel in my heart the departure of a friend whom I honoured with my loyalty and companionship until his last days. I made my farewell with him in person and the wake should be an intimate occasion.

“It is inexplicable that for 12 hours my friend has not had attention or control from the legal health personnel.

“The ambulance took more than half an hour to arrive, which was CRIMINAL IDIOCY.

“This fact should not be overlooked and I am going to ask that the consequences be investigated until the end. As Diego said, ‘You are my soldier, act without mercy’.”

Diego Maradona with his most recent personal physician Leopoldo Luque.

An ambulance carrying Diego Maradona leaves Clinica Olivos to take him home after his brain surgery. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)

Maradona’s long-term doctor Alfredo Cahe has also questioned the decision to move the Argentina icon from hospital on November 11 following his brain operation.

Cahe was Maradona’s doctor for more than 30 years and the man behind the decision to take him to Cuba in 2000 to treat his cocaine addiction.

He told Argentine news show Telefe Noticias: “Diego wasn’t looked after as he should have been.

“He should have been kept in hospital, not taken to a house which wasn’t properly prepared.

“I’m in a state of complete shock. I’ve had so many ups and downs with Diego for 33 years and he’s just died in an unusual way.

“I have a lot of doubts. I don’t know why he was taken to that house.

“When he left hospital it didn’t seem logical to me. He should have stayed in a place with a good infrastructure, like when we took him to Cuba.”

Cahe visited the 1986 World Cup winner while he was at Clinica Olivos on the outskirts of Buenos Aires following his recent operation for a bleed on the brain.

Alfredo Cahe leaves the private clinic where Maradona was hospitalised after undergoing a brain surgery for a blood clot. (Photo by Emiliano LASALVIA / AFP)

But he was unable to have a proper conversation with the Napoli hero because of the medication he was on.

“A woman close to him told me Diego had told her that he was deeply distressed. And that he felt he had done everything in life,” Cahe said.

Maradona’s most recent personal physician was Leopoldo Luque, who published the first photo of the ex-midfielder in hospital after his operation – just hours before he left for the house where he died.

His visitors since his release had included youngest son Diego Fernando, whose mum posted a touching photo on social media of the former footballer alongside the youngster and a message that read: “I missed you a lot daddy.”

The photo was the first of the former Barcelona and Napoli star after his release from hospital, and turned out to be the last following his untimely death at the age of just 60.

Maradona with his son, Diego Jr.

– The Sun