Tragic football star was killed by plane crash, not drowning

FOOTBALLER Emiliano Sala died of severe injuries to his head and upper body when the light aircraft he was flying in crashed in the Channel, an inquest heard yesterday.

The 28-year-old Cardiff City striker died from injuries caused by the impact of the Piper PA-46 Malibu plane plunging into the sea rather than by drowning. The aircraft sank in 220ft of water off Guernsey on January 21, with Sala’s body found on February 6. The Argentine, pictured, had been travelling from Nantes in France to Cardiff where he was due to join his new club.

Yesterday an inquest was opened in Bournemouth as a fundraising appeal to search for missing pilot David Ibbotson rose to £150,000. Ian Parry, a senior coroner’s officer, said Sala’s body was brought to Portland, where he was officially pronounced dead, on February 7. His body was identified using fingerprint evidence.

A Home Office forensic pathologist carried out a post-mortem examination, which confirmed the cause of death as ‘head and trunk injuries’.

Mr Parry said: ‘The plane was located on the seabed. The body later identified as Mr Sala was found. [The Home Office pathologist] gave the cause of death as 1a head and trunk injuries.’

The crash is being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and Civil Aviation Authority.