Maradona's mother dies, aged 81

The mother of football star, Diego Armando Maradona, known as "Doña Tota," died this evening in the Los Arcos clinic. According to hospital sources, the 81-year-old had been hospitalized since Friday.

The trainer and former football star Diego Maradona made an urgent return to the country, after hearing that his mother, Dalma Salvadora Franco -better known as “Doña Tota”- had been hospitalized yesterday in Buenos Aires.

Maradona had been in Dubai where he coaches the Al Wasl team, when upon finding out the news of his mother’s health, travelled to Ezeiza airport in order to accompany the 81-year-old where she was being held in intensive care in Los Arcos Hospital in Palermo. 

Hospital sources confirmed to the press that the woman had been admitted since yesterday with a heart condition.

According to sources, Maradona’s sisters and his youngest daughter, Gianninna Maradona were present at the clinic.

Dalma Salvadora had been previously hospitalized in July this year in the Argentina Suizo Clinic with cardiac problems.