Mexican wrestling star Hijo del Perro Aguayo dies after kick in ring

(CNN)The world of Mexican wrestling has been deeply shaken by the death of star fighter Hijo del Perro Aguayo, who collapsed after being kicked during a bout.

The lucha libre fighter, whose real name is Pedro Aguayo Ramirez, was left slumped against the ropes after a flying kick from one of his opponents, Rey Mysterio, during the match Friday night.

The other wrestlers continued with the fight as Aguayo’s limp body slid down onto the mat, according to video footage of the bout posted on social media.

The video showed ringside personnel repeatedly shaking Aguayo and talking to him without any response. He eventually received medical attention and was rushed out of the arena in the city of Tijuana.

But doctors were unable to revive him. AAA, the wrestling promotion company for which Aguayo worked, said it was informed of his death around 1 a.m. Saturday. He was 35 years old.

Wrestling community in mourning

“Mexican lucha libre is in mourning over the death of one of its star talents,” the AAA said in a statement.

Questions remained over what exactly caused Aguayo’s death and why it took so long for him to receive medical treatment.

Ernesto Franco, the duty doctor at the fight, told Mexico’s state news agency Notimex that at the time of Aguayo’s collapse, he was attending to other injured wrestlers, according to CNN Mexico.

Franco said Aguayo’s injury was the result of a blow to the neck region, adding that he spent about an hour trying to revive him using “all possible resuscitation measures.”

The Associated Press reported that the state prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into possible manslaughter.

The AAA said Friday’s fight was organized by another promotion company named The Crash.

‘You will be missed’

Aguayo’s death prompted an outpouring of grief on social media from fans and members of the wrestling industry.

“I will miss you and carry you with me for the rest of my life,” tweeted Rey Mysterio, a former WWE superstar who landed the flying kick on Aguayo. “Rest in peace, Hijo del Perro.”

He posted two images on Instagram that appeared to show him and Aguayo at a young age and again later in life.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/22/americas/mexico-wrestling-hijo-del-perro-aguayo-death/index.html

Mexican wrestling star Hijo del Perro Aguayo dies after kick in ring