Heavily pregnant former Olympian, 26, suddenly collapses and dies of 'heart attack' in restaurant - but doctors manage to save her baby

Meskerem Legesse, 26, was eight months pregnant when she collapsed at a Connecticut restaurant



The long-distance runner was rushed to hospital where doctors were able to save her baby



She had previously been diagnosed with heart problems

A pregnant former Olympic runner three weeks from her due date died after collapsing at a Connecticut restaurant on Monday, but doctors were able to save her baby.

Ethiopian runner Meskerem Legesse, 26, of Westport, Connecticut was with her two-year-old son at a Chinese restaurant on the 900 block of Dixwell Ave in Hamden eating lunch when she collapsed on Monday.

The eight-months pregnant Legesse was given CPR at the restaurant before an ambulance rushed her to Yale-New Haven Hospital.

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Tragedy: Meskerem Legesse gave up running after finding out she had heart problems

Pregnant mother: Security camera footage shows Legesse arriving at the restaurant and sitting down before moments later keeling over

Hamden Fire Chief David Berardesca says CPR efforts in the restaurant and ambulance allowed doctors to save the baby.

The Courant is reporting the young mother died of a massive heart attack, though no autopsy has been performed.



A friend, Fatima Sene, said the athlete had heart problems which were the cause of her retirement from sport.



Sene to ld WFSB t hat the marathon runner was so careful during her pregnancy that she drank nothing but water and ate extremely healthily.

Homesick: Legesse hadn't been back to Ethipia in nine years and was planning a visit after the birth of her daughter

'She always tried to eat healthy and she always makes sure her son eats good,' she said. 'I just don’t know what to say.'

WFSB reports Legesse had not been back to Ethiopia in nine years and was waiting for the birth of her second child so she could finally visit.

'She was so excited,' Sene told WFSB about Legesse's pregnancy. 'When she found out she was going to have a girl, she called me.'

Happy: Legesse had been excitedly awaiting the birth of her first daughter when she died on Monday



'She wanted to see her mother, so I want to get her home,' Sene said. 'I want to make sure she goes home.'

'It is very sad. She was a very good person,' Sene the Star Tribune . 'She would do anything for anybody. And she loved that little boy she left behind.'



Sene said that Legesse's two-year-old son and the newborn baby are with their father.

According to the Star Tribune, the state medical examiner's office has declined to perform an autopsy, citing Legesse's past health problems.



Arrangements are being made to transport Legesse's body to Ethiopia for burial.