Lokeren defender Gregory Mertens has passed away at the age of 24 after collapsing on the pitch earlier this week.

Mertens had spent the last few days in an induced coma due to a heart-related illness after needing CPR in the first half of Monday's reserve-team clash with Genk.

On Wednesday, a Lokeren spokesman revealed that his condition had "deteriorated", and the club has now confirmed his death on Twitter.

They tweeted: "With sadness we announce the loss of Gregory Mertens. We wish [his] family and friends all the strength."

Met droefheid melden wij u het verlies van Gregory Mertens. Wij wensen de familie en vrienden alle sterkte toe. pic.twitter.com/pV0lDz1UnD

— Sporting Lokeren (@KSCLokeren) April 30, 2015

Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne were among a few of his compatriots to have willed his recovery in recent days.