[Leaters]

Female Footballer Dies After Ankle Injury

11:42am Wednesday October 06, 2010
Osman Baig

Tributes have been paid to a 20-year-old female footballer who died suddenly after injuring her ankle during a tackle.



Sharmaine Thornthwaite was described as a promising young footballer

Sharmaine Thornthwaite - known to her friends as Shar - was a talented defender for Penrith AFC Ladies. She damaged her ankle during the first few minutes of a match against Morecambe on September 26. The exact cause of her death last Thursday has not been determined, but it is thought to have been the result of a blood clot picked up from the injury.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish if there is any link between the injury and her death. Sharmaine had initially been taken to Penrith hospital on suspicion of fracturing her ankle. She was discharged after X-rays ruled out broken bones, though her ankle was heavily swollen.
She died at her family home just days later. Her club's manager Simon Savage has spoken out about the tragedy.

He said: "Everyone at the club has been left numb by the news of Shar's death. "The ladies and coaches are devastated and are really struggling to come to terms with what's happened. "We are a close group and spend a lot of time together through our love of football, but Shar's loss has left a massive hole which we will never be able to fill." Sharmaine was described as a talented footballer and a bubbly personality.
Her funeral will take place on Friday.