In what could be termed as one of medical history's tragic ironies, a 46-year old Italian cardiologist has died of a heart attack in the presence of nearly 25,000 doctors at an international cardiology meeting in Vienna.

The woman died late Sunday evening after collapsing at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) taking place in the Austrian capital from September 1 to 5.

Though the woman, whose name has not yet been revealed, was immediately flown into Vienna's general hospital for treatment, her condition remained critical.

She died late on Sunday evening due to congenital malformation of the heart, chief medic Reinhard Krepler told the Austrian Press.

The ESC Congress provides a wealth of scientific and educational information on all fields of cardiology. It is one of the largest medical congresses in Europe.