Kerry footballer Patrick Curtin dies in Central America

Tributes have been paid to a Kerry footballer who died after being involved in a workplace incident in Central America.

Patrick Curtin (26) was airlifted to hospital in Miami after the incident, said to be a car crash, which took place in Gautemala.

The Moyvane clubman represented his county at minor, U21, junior and senior grades, and his death was announced on the Kerry GAA website today.

The full-forward wore the green and gold jersey at minor level in 2006 and 2007, before moving onto U21 in 2009 and eventually made his senior debut against Dublin in 2012 before lining out against Tipperary in the Munster Championship that same year.

He went on to make a total of 10 league and 6 championship appearances for the county between 2012 and 2013.

In a statement, Kerry GAA extended its sympathies to Mr Curtin’s family who have maintained a bedside vigil for the last number of days.

“It is with deep regret that Kerry GAA has learned of the death of Patrick Curtin of Moyvane... Kerry GAA extends its deepest sympathy to his family, friends and work colleagues and also to his Club, Moyvane,” it read.

It was reported that Mr Curtin had moved to Guatemala earlier this year, where he was working for Liebherr crane company at the time of the incident. He had been receiving specialist care in the United States after he sustained serious injuries in the crash.