Another journalist has “died suddenly” while covering World Cup soccer in Doha, Qatar according to reports.
Khalid al-Misslam, a Qatari photojournalist, was covering the World Cup for local sports outlet Al Klass TV when he died on Saturday, the Gulf Times reported.
Al Kass TV photojournalist Khalid al-Misslam passed away recently.
Al- Misslam, a Qatari, died suddenly while covering the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. We believe in Allah's mercy and forgiveness for him, and send our deepest condolences to his family. pic.twitter.com/M1ZyoBJWkW— Gulf-Times (@GulfTimes_QATAR) December 10, 2022
The photographer is the second “sudden death” of a journalist in Qatar after American reporter Grant Wahl died of a heart attack while covering the World Cup.
Wahl, 48, collapsed and died while typing on his laptop in the media room at Lusail Stadium on Friday, Dec. 9.
On Dec. 1, Wahl complained of a cold that advanced to bronchitis. He was prescribed antibiotics and given “some heavy-duty cough syrup.”
According to DailyMail.com, Wahl had complained about a wet cough that he described as a “death rattle” the day before he died.
“What had been a cold turned into something more severe,” he wrote in a post on Grantwahl.com on Dec. 5.
Wahl said he visited a clinic in the media center where he was told he probably had bronchitis.
“I didn’t have Covid (I test regularly here), but I went into the medical clinic at the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis. They gave me a course of antibiotics and some heavy-duty cough syrup, and I’m already feeling a bit better just a few hours later. But still: No bueno.”
His agent, Tim Scanlan, told the New York Times that Wahl experienced “acute distress” in the media center in the final minutes of the soccer match.
In an Instagram video, Wahl’s distraught brother, Eric, said through tears that he believed Wahl was murdered for being an LGBT+ ally.
Wahl had been briefly detained before the United States’ opener against Wales for wearing a pro-LGBT+ rainbow flag shirt, according to DailyMail.com. He was eventually allowed into the stadium.
Just now: Security guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales. “You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed.” pic.twitter.com/TvSGThMYq8
— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) November 21, 2022
Eric, who is openly gay, said his brother wore the shirt to show support for the LGBT+ community. “I am the reason he wore the rainbow shirt to the world cup. I do not believe my brother just died, I believe he was killed,” he cried.
Wahl was a staunch supporter of the COVID mRNA vaccines. He proudly displayed proof of his first vaccine in a tweet dated April 7, 2021.
Thrilled to get my 1st Pfizer Covid vaccine dose. Science! pic.twitter.com/6SaHitpK5n
— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) April 7, 2021
The vaccines caught up with you. ?
— SoTrumpie (@SoTrumpie) December 10, 2022
Wahl was married to Dr. Celine Gounder, a pro-vaccine advocate who recently called on Facebook, Twitter, and Google to “deplatform” media outlets and public citizens who spread “anti-vaccine disinformation” online.
The odds of 2 of these incidents happening is not a coincidence at all. People need to wake up.
— Philip Ismond (@00RedStar) December 12, 2022