Golden Glory Comments on Fighter Death

Golden Glory released a statement this week regarding the death of Moldovan fighter Vitali Mitu, who reportedly collapsed and could not be revived on Nov. 21 following a sparring session with three-time K-1 World Grand Prix Champion Semmy Schilt at Golden Glory’s gym in Bucharest, Romania, according to Gardianul, a Romanian newspaper. Mitu was 22 years old.

“What happened on Thursday evening was something we didn’t expect, an unfortunate event, a tremendous pain for everybody, trainers, colleagues, acquaintances and family,” read a statement signed by trainers Ciprian Sora and Horia Radulescu. “The tragedy happened during training when MÃ®Å£u fainted without being hit. In 3 seconds I got to him and I gave him first aid. In a few minutes came the ambulance. The doctors from SMURD tried for an hour to resuscitate him and after an hour they determined his death by cardiorespiratory arrest, without signs of violence except normal ones caused by resuscitation maneuvers.”

According to the release, an autopsy conducted by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine from Bucharest determined that Vitali died of “an acute viral pneumonia that turned into pulmonary edema, without signs of trauma other than those caused by resuscitation maneuvers.”

The release also stated that Vitali began kickboxing more than four years ago and had started training at Golden Glory Romania eight months prior.

Schilt, 36, had been in the southeast European country to prepare for his quest to regain his crown at the K-1 World Grand Prix on Dec. 5 in Yokohama, Japan.

Tim Leidecker contributed to this report.