Maradona trial: Bodyguard describes swelling and failed attempts to secure medical visit

A personal bodyguard told the trial into Diego Armando Maradona’s death that the Argentina great’s private doctor, Leopoldo Luque, failed to visit him despite repeated warnings about his deteriorating health.

Martin Anibal Dominguez gave evidence on Tuesday in the case examining the circumstances surrounding Maradona’s death. He said Luque did not attend the house where Maradona was receiving home treatment, even though those around the former footballer had raised concerns about his condition.

“He was supposed to come; Diego had recently undergone surgery,” Dominguez said. “He was supposed to come, but he didn’t. We couldn’t deal with Diego; he was in a bad mood and treated everyone badly.”

Dominguez was part of Maradona’s security team and was present at the property on the outskirts of Buenos Aires where the former Napoli and Barcelona player died on 25 November 2020.

The witness told the court that Maradona’s physical condition had appeared to worsen in the final days of his life.

“Every time I saw him, his face was swollen,” he said, adding that people repeatedly asked him about Maradona’s health. “I would answer that he was suffering from fluid retention.”

During Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors showed messages in which Dominguez warned Luque about the swelling and urged the doctor to visit Maradona at home.

Asked by the prosecutor why he had sent those messages, Dominguez replied: “Diego told the nurse that he was waiting for his private doctor.”

He also described a marked change in Maradona’s behaviour and daily routine.

“Diego was not well, he did not want to shower, he did not leave his room and he did not want to eat,” Dominguez told the court.

“Monona, the cook, also told me that he was not going to the bathroom. That was why they installed a bathroom in his room.”

According to evidence heard at the trial, Maradona spent 14 days at the house before his death. Luque visited him four times during that period, on 17, 18, 20 and 22 November.

The doctor reportedly told some of Maradona’s other close associates, who had also informed him about the swelling, that it was the result of being confined to bed for a prolonged period and would disappear.

Maradona died from “acute pulmonary oedema caused by an exacerbation of chronic heart failure”, according to the autopsy report.

Forensic experts who examined his body have also given evidence at the trial. They said they found three litres of fluid in Maradona’s abdomen and that he showed signs of “generalised oedema”, meaning widespread fluid accumulation throughout the body.

The experts said the condition had developed over the course of several days.

Luque is standing trial alongside psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Diaz, home-care co-ordinator Nancy Forlini of Swiss Medical, doctor Pedro Di Spagna, nursing co-ordinator Mariano Perroni and nurse Ricardo Almiron.

All seven defendants are accused of culpable homicide in connection with Maradona’s death.