Emiliano Sala suffered ‘severe’ carbon monoxide poisoning before he died in plane crash, inquest hears

The carbon monoxide likely came from the plane’s exhaust system, a pathologist told the inquest

Tributes left outside the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes for Emiliano Sala (REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo)

Blood tests have revealed that top footballer Emiliano Sala had been overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning prior to his death in a plane crash, an inquest heard.

The Argentina-born striker was 28-years-old when a private plane he was travelling on between France and Wales crashed.

The plane crashed into the English Channel, close to Guernsey, on the evening of 21 January 2019.

Sala was joining then English Premier League club Cardiff City in a £15 million transfer from French Ligue 1 side Nantes.

Emiliano Sala in 2018 after scoring a goal for Nantes (Jean-Francois/AFP via Getty Images)

The Piper Malibu aircraft left Nantes airport at 7.15pm for Cardiff but radar contact was lost at 8.15pm near Guernsey.

The aircraft was located on the seabed on 3 February and Sala’s body was found in the wreckage three days later, the inquest heard.

Also killed in the crash was pilot David Ibbotson, 59, whose body has never been found.

The inquest resumed on Tuesday (22 February) at Dorset coroner’s court after it was adjourned a week ago for legal reasons.

Pathologist Dr Basil Purdue told the inquest last week that Sala had died from severe head and chest injuries consistent with a plane crash.

But prior to his death he had been overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning and would have been “deeply unconscious” at the point of impact with the sea, Dr Purdue said on Tuesday.

He said toxicological tests on samples of Sala’s blood showed carbon monoxide blood saturation of 85 per cent, which he described as “severe poisoning”, and suggested the source was the plane’s exhaust system.

Also in his evidence, Dr Purdue said two blood samples were taken from Sala – one from the iliofemoral vein in his leg and a second from the cavity of the torso.

The first blood sample was sent away for carbon monoxide testing and the second was used to confirm identity from DNA testing. The second sample was later sent to Canada for further testing.

Dr Purdue explained due to decomposition he was only able to take one blood sample from the iliofemoral vein and obtained blood for DNA testing from the cavity.

He said cavity blood was often contaminated and of “uncertain composition”, and could not be relied upon for toxicological examination, although it was acceptable for DNA testing.

“It is not blood, it is blood with an unknown of other things – you are going to be misled,” he said.

Dr Purdue said Sala’s body was in the process of decomposition when he carried out the post-mortem examination on 7 February.

“If we had more blood, I would have taken more samples. The fact we only had one bottle is indicative of all we could get,” he said.

Forensic examiner Katherine Baldwin told the inquest the cavity blood sample was stored in a Dorset Police freezer until it was sent off to Canada for testing.

She also confirmed the first sample had been destroyed by a forensic lab after being tested, even though it was part of an ongoing investigation.

The inquest, which is taking place at the Town Hall in Bournemouth, is due to last around a month.