The footballing world is in mourning
(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his brother's autopsies could take 'several days' and the family is reportedly being given psychological support, it was revealed today. The 28-year-old Portuguese striker tragically passed away together with his brother in a road traffic accident on Thursday morning.
The footballing world is in mourning after the fatal car crash in the Zamora region of Spain. Reports from Portugal suggest recently married Jota was on his way to catch a ferry to the UK, as he was advised not to fly following lung surgery, ahead of the start of pre-season training with the Anfield club.
At kilometre 65 of the A-52 motorway, initial investigations made by the area's Civil Guard reveal that Jota's vehicle suffered a suspected tyre blowout while overtaking and crashed off the side of the road. Medical personnel arrived at the scene, declaring both passengers dead, with the vehicle having caught fire.
Now, Portuguese outlet Jornal de Noticias have shed some light on the autopsy process, suggesting it may take 'several days.'
The scene in Spain(Image: Getty Images)
Reports state that the bodies of Jota and his brother are currently at the Zamora Institute of Forensic Medicine, awaiting their respective autopsies, reports The Echo.
"The bodies are at the Zamora Institute of Forensic Medicine, where all the necessary tests will be carried out to confirm the identities of the victims," said the Spanish government's deputy delegate in Zamora, Angel Blanco. "DNA tests may be necessary and should be sent to the National Institute of Toxicology in Madrid."
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However, the bodies will only be transported to Portugal after said autopsies and tests, and while it is unknown how long this may take, Blanco added: "The results may take several days." It was also made clear that the violence of the fire that occurred after Jota's vehicle crashed made "identification difficult" for those who have tended to the bodies.
Other reports also state that Jota's family has arrived in the region where he passed away. The Regional Government of Castilla y Leon has sent psychological support teams to assist the grieving family starting at 9:30am local time, reports The Echo.
A spokesman for the Civil Guard investigating the road incident in Zamora said: "The investigation into the crash is being carried out by Civil Guard traffic officers.
Tributes at Anfield(Image: PA)
"We believe the car suffered a blowout from the marks on the road. The full police report once it is completed will be submitted to a duty court in Zamora which has launched an ongoing judicial investigation into this crash.
"That report is going to take time to complete, probably about four or five days but possibly longer. At this moment in time it is impossible to say at exactly what speed the car was going.
"But that is something the Civil Guard investigators will be able to detail at least approximately in their final report from things like the skid marks. What I can confirm is that no other vehicle was involved and no-one else was hurt."
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