[ad_1]
A body found by British investigators in the submerged wreck of a fallen plane in the Channel has been identified as that of footballer Emiliano Sala, police said Thursday.
The Argentine striker's body was first sighted by rescuers with a remote-controlled vehicle (ROV) on Sunday near the place where the plane had disappeared near the island of Guernsey.
She was found Wednesday and brought on Thursday aboard the ocean sea supply vessel Geo Ocean III on the island of Portland, in southern England, for formal identification by coroners, who investigate deaths in Britain.
The light aircraft was carrying the 28-year-old footballer to his new Premier League team, Cardiff City, when he disappeared near Guernsey on January 21, alongside his 59-year-old driver David Ibbotson .
"The body that was brought to the port of Portland today has been officially identified … as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala," police said in Dorset, the county where the body was taken, on Twitter.
"The families of Mr. Sala and pilot David Ibbotson have been updated. Our thoughts remain with all, "said the police.
After the discovery of his body, Gabriel Batistuta, a retired Argentinian football star, paid tribute to the talented young player whose disappearance caused a wave of grief.
"What sadness, it's the worst news. Rest in peace warrior, "he tweeted. Argentine President Mauricio Macri also extended his condolences to Sala's family following this "painful news".
"We are with you," he added. While the small Argentinean town of Progreso, where the footballer lived most of his childhood, remained "very touched".
"Since we learned that everyone can talk about it, that's it," said Oscar Heymo, owner of a local restaurant, a friend of Sala's father, Horacio.
"He was very loved and admired by all." The disappearance of Sala caused a wave of grief in the world of football, including in his former club, Nantes, France, from where the plane was flying.
The initial search operations to find the plane had been suspended a few days after his disappearance, but a sinking hunter hired by the family of Sala with funds donated by football stars such as Lionel Messi found the wreckage.
The British Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) then coordinated the recovery and the rescued body was transported Thursday to Portland Harbor and was seen spreading in a silver van.
"Under difficult conditions, the AAIB and its specialized subcontractors have managed to recover the body previously found in the middle of the debris," said AAIB on Wednesday.
"The operation was as dignified as possible." The AAIB was unable to recover the aircraft because of bad weather and ended the operation.
"The weather forecast is poor in the near future and the difficult decision to end all operations has been taken," he said. He said that many video footage recorded by a remotely operated vehicle should "provide valuable evidence for our security investigation", adding that he intended to issue an interim report on the accident more late this month.
The aircraft, a Piper PA-46 Malibu, disappeared from the radar about 20 kilometers north of Guernsey, with Ibbotson as the only other person on board.
After the official rescue teams quit their search, claiming that there were few chances to find people alive, Sala's family had collected more than 370,000 euros (422,000 USD) during a campaign in line to finance a private hunt.
"If that did not happen, I do not think anyone would have looked for the plane," said AFP David Mearns, a wreck hunter.
The discovery of two seat cushions on the French coast last week revealed that the plane was broken, he added. Sala had flown to join his new club, Cardiff City, in what was the most expensive signature of the Welsh club's history.
Nantes has consulted with lawyers to explore the legal options for Cardiff to pay Sala's transfer fees, a source close to the French club said on Wednesday.
According to the source, the first installment of the 17 million euros ($ 19.3 million) deal intended for the Argentine striker has still not been paid, although the transfer was finalized before the accident.
Earlier this week, Football's father, Horacio, admitted there was no chance of finding his son alive. "There is no hope," he told Fox Sports.
[ad_2]
Source link
