Cheick Tiote team-mates remember tragic star at Beijing memorial service following last week’s cardiac arrest at training
A MEMORIAL service for Cheick Tiote has been held in Beijing following his tragic cardiac arrest last week.
The former Newcastle star, who was just 30, collapsed during training for Chinese second division side Beijing Enterprises last week and died after being rushed to hospital.
Former team-mates, celebrities and football supporters paid tribute to the midfielder following the terrible news.
And in the Chinese capital, his Beijing Enterprises team-mates stood around a coffin draped in the flag of the Ivory Coast with their heads bowed in respect, before his body was flown back to the African country.
Family and friends openly wept at the emotional service for the father of three, who played over 100 games in the Premier League for the Toon before moving to Asia.
Many of these players surrounded Tiote - who was reportedly expecting a fourth child - and tried to assist with the first-aid efforts to revive him at the training complex.
One of those present, defender Jin Hui, wrote in a post on social media platform WeChat Moments: “He just collapsed right in front of me. I still cannot believe this.”
The service was attended by a tearful Papiss Cisse, a former team-mate at Newcastle who currently plays his football in China for Shandong Luneng.
Other former team-mates flew out following his death last Monday, as did his agent Emanuele Palladino.
Fans outside carried a banner saying "RIP" with Tiote's face and chanted his name, while soldiers saluted the tragic footballer.
Last week members of an official fan club visited the Beijing side’s stadium to lay flowers on the pitch in a brief ceremony.
Chen Zhenting, a spokesperson for the fan club, told BBC Chinese: "They came this morning in the rain to pay tribute to Mr Tiote.
"We are in pain and very, very sad to see him die at such a young age. There would definitely be a silent tribute."