This was published 9 years ago
Devastated Chapecoense players, fans come to grips with plane tragedy
The team was travelling on a charter flight from Brazil to Colombia via Bolivia to face Atletico Nacional in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final.
Attribution: Not Supplied
The plane crashed in mountains outside Medellin, killing 76 of the 81 people on board.
n
Three footballers, two journalists and a member of the crew survived the crash despite rescue efforts being hampered by heavy rain and fog.
Attribution: Not Supplied
As the news about their teammates reached Chapecó, Brazil, devastated non-travelling players gathered at the team's home ground.
Attribution: Not Supplied
“Pray for my team-mates,” Alejandro Martinuccio, one of nine first-team players not on the plane, tweeted.
Attribution: Not Supplied
As did the fans, with the heartbreak obvious for one young supporter as he sat alone in the stands of the Arena Conda - the club's home ground.
Attribution: Not Supplied
A supporter looks at a photo of his heroes, most of whom died in the crash.
Attribution: Not Supplied
The fans hung roses in the net as a tribute to the players.
Attribution: Not Supplied
“The pain is hard to take. Chapecoense was the biggest source of happiness in the city. Many in the town are crying,” club vice-president Ivan Tozzo told SporTV.
Attribution: Not Supplied
“I’ve been at Chapecoense a long time and I know what we’ve gone through to get here. Now we’ve arrived here – I won’t say at our peak but known around the country – a tragedy like this happens,” Tozzo said.
Attribution: Not Supplied
