Investigation launched into Sala ‘morgue photos’

Monday 29 April 2019

An investigation has been launched into photographs leaked on social media showing the remains of a footballer whose plane crashed off the coast of Alderney.

The 28-year-old Argentinian striker had been on his way from Nantes to his new club, Cardiff City FC, when his plane, which was crewed by pilot David Ibbotson, went off-radar.

It later emerged that it had crashed into the Channel, and his body was removed from the underwater wreckage in a specialist diving operation. 

Police are now investigating reports that someone took photographs of his body within Holly Tree Lodge mortuary in Bournemouth, Dorset, which have now been shared online. 

Pictured: The type of plane Mr Sala and Mr Ibbotson had been travelling in, a Piper Malibu.

Dorset Police commented: “We are aware that a picture reported to be of Mr Sala's body has been shared on social media channels and are disgusted that somebody did this.

“It is clearly a very difficult time for Mr Sala's family and they should not have to endure additional pain that this shameful act will undoubtedly cause.

“We are investigating this incident and are working together with a number of agencies to establish how the picture was taken and who is responsible.”

It’s the second new tragedy to hit the Sala family in just one week.

Pictured: Emiliano Sala's family at a press conference with David Mearns, a 'shipwreck hunter', who helped them find the plane wreckage.

On Friday, it was reported that Mr Sala’s father, Horacio, died from a heart attack at his home.

The truck driver from Progreso, Santa Fe in Argentina, had previously spoken of his agony at learning of his son’s disappearance through the media, and later said he was “heartbroken” over his death.

Meanwhile, the Air Accident Investigation Branch continue their enquiries into exactly what led to the crash. They have so far released an interim report, which described the aircraft as undergoing a number of twists and turns before plummeting at a rate of 7,000ft/minute ahead of its crash, and say that a full report will be published when investigations have fully concluded in the autumn.