Saturday, 27 April 2019 05:42

Emiliano Sala's father dies three months after son is killed

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Father of Premier League footballer Emiliano Sala, who was killed in a plane crash earlier this year, has died three months after his son.

Horacio Sala, 58, suffered a heart attack on Friday, his friend and president of his local club confirmed.

Daniel Ribero, from San Martin de Progreso, told C5N TV channel that Mr Sala had passed away before doctors arrived at his home in Progreso.

Emiliano Sala's plane crashed en route to Cardiff after leaving from France.

The Argentine footballer was on his way to joining his new club Cardiff City from French club Nantes in a club record £15m deal when the crash happened over the English Channel.

Progreso mayor Julio Muller led the tributes to Mr Sala, telling La Red radio station: "Horacio could not overcome Emi, we thought that after the discovery he would be able to close that circle."

In a statement, Cardiff City said the club offered its "deepest condolences" to Mr Sala's friends and family.

"They are very much in the thoughts of us all at this difficult time," a spokesman said.

The Piper Malibu N264DB plane carrying Sala and pilot David Ibbotson went missing over waters near the Channel Islands on 21 January and it took rescuers two weeks to find the wreckage.

The football star's body was recovered on 8 February after a private rescue team took over the search for the missing plane.

The father-of-three, a long-distance lorry driver, spoke to the BBC two weeks ago and pleaded "that justice be done" for his son.

He told the BBC Wales Investigates programme he wanted to "continue investigating all the things that we have to know and that we can know."

"That is all I can ask," added Mr Sala, who had split-up from his son's mother Mercedes.

Air accident investigators are still looking into why the Piper Malibu plane carrying Sala to Cardiff for his first training session crashed.

The light aircraft was piloted by Mr Ibbotson, from Crowle, North Lincolnshire, whose body has not been found.

The legality of Sala's flight has not yet been established, but a preliminary report from air accident investigators in February said the pilot was not licensed to carry fee-paying passengers and the plane was not registered for commercial flights.

Cardiff City have said the club "wholeheartedly" backs the Air Charter Association's (BACA) calls "to secure a review of illegal flights".

In the three months since the crash, BACA said it had received reports of illegal flights happening in the UK at a rate of almost one per day.

Sala started his career at his hometown club San Martín de Progreso - in Argentina's Santa Fe region, about 350 miles (563km) from the capital Buenos Aires - and his father retained close links with the club.

A wake was held at the club before his funeral in Progreso in February.

The club confirmed Mr Sala's death and president Mr Ribero added: "At dawn he felt a pain in his chest, they called the doctor but when he arrived, Horacio had already passed away."

 

BBC

April 15, 2025

GenCos warn of nationwide blackout over FG’s N4trn debt

Power Generation Companies (GenCos) have threatened to shut down operations over a N4 trillion debt…
April 14, 2025

‘Tinubu may be a great dad, but he’s Nigeria’s worst president’ – Eedris Abdulkareem

Veteran Nigerian rapper and activist Eedris Abdulkareem has launched a scathing critique of President Bola…
April 16, 2025

A strategy to get more done—and feel less stressed

For some people, the expression “You have as many hours in the day as Beyoncé”…
April 06, 2025

Excavation near site where Jesus was crucified and buried results in ancient discovery

Proof of an ancient garden, consistent with biblical scripture, has emerged at the holiest site…
April 16, 2025

Gunmen abduct worshippers on prayer mountain in Kogi

Gunmen reportedly stormed a prayer session at a remote mountain site in the Egbola area,…
April 16, 2025

Here’s the latest as Israel-Hamas war enters Day 558

Hamas armed wing says it lost contact with group holding Israeli-US hostage Alexander The armed…
April 15, 2025

Is it finally safe to ditch your phone case? I put it to the test

Thomas Germain With smartphones tougher than ever, a new wave of phone minimalists say cases…
January 08, 2025

NFF appoints new Super Eagles head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.