Former basketball player Gabriel Calanca, president of CSU Brașov, has died at the age of just 56 after a “stupid accident”, according to the Romanian Basketball Federation.

Gabriel Calanchea died after falling down the stairs

While in Kostineshti, where the national U12 minibasket competition was held, Kalanca fell down the stairs while walking to the beach with his little girl. He was hospitalized, but could not be saved.

“The news of the death of former basketball player Gabriel Kalanch, who was only 56 years old, came as a shock both to his loved ones and to the Romanian basketball family. The president of the CSU Brasov club lived his last moments where he was born: by the sea.

Unfortunately, a senseless accident cut short the life of someone who came with his family to enjoy the basketball show offered by the young participants of the U12 National Mini Basketball Competition.

The brother of women’s national team coach Dana Calanche, Gabriel devoted his life to basketball from childhood to the end of his life. Polished by coach Mercishore Chondrile, he was called up to the national junior teams, representing Romania well.

In 1985, together with his brother, he moved to Brasov, attending courses at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. In the city outside Tampa, they became one of the most important players in the first division of CSU, a team in which they played until the end of their careers.

After his career, Gabriel Calanca stayed in basketball, becoming the president of CSU Brașov. This year, he celebrated 38 years of continuous activity (as a player and later as a coach) in the blue-and-white team,” the Romanian Basketball Federation said in a statement.