February 7 will go down in history as a sad day for football fans around the world. In a short press release, Dorset Police confirmed that the body found inside the plane wreckage lying on the bottom of the ocean indeed belongs to Emiliano Sala, the Argentine footballer who was on his way to join Cardiff City as their record-breaking transfer.
Earlier today, the body was transported to a forensic lab, where Sala's body was identified. The whereabouts of pilot David Ibbotson's body remain unknown.
#Update The body brought to Portland Port today has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala.
— Dorset Police (@dorsetpolice) February 7, 2019
The families of Mr Sala and pilot David Ibbotson have been updated. Our thoughts remain with them all
https://t.co/YpVTvaEt7P
Sala, 28, was on the plane that disappeared from all radars on January 21, as he was en route to Cardiff. Local authorities started a search and rescue mission, but efforts were stopped after just four days. The player's family raised money to conduct a private search, which immediately provided results, as two seat cushions from the ill-fated plane were found on a French beach.
Earlier this week, the wreckage of the plane was found lying on the bottom of the ocean. Robots assisting the search identified a body inside the plane, which was immediately removed from the site by local authorities.
