Few hockey fans in the Czech Republic have forgotten about the plane crash in Yaroslavl. Exactly ten years ago, a plane with hockey players of the local club crashed in a Russian city, and three Czech players were also on board. Jan Marek († 31), Josef Vašíček († 30) and Karel Rachůnek († 32) lost their lives that day. Not only did the hockey nation suffer, it was a big blow especially for their partners. Kateřina Rachůnková (41), Lucie Marková (40) and Michaela Jajtnerová (38) lost their love of life during one tragic moment. How did the three women cope with the crushing loss?
The plane crash in Yaroslavl was a huge shock to the whole world. On September 7, 2011, shortly after takeoff, a plane crashed, carrying 45 people. Most of them were Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey players who traveled to the match with Dynamo Minsk. Among them were three Czech players Jan Marek, Josef Vašíček and Karel Rachůnek, who were left with three damn partners.
Jajtner sued her family
For example, Josef Vašíček had just before the wedding. He was to marry his fiancée Michaela Jajtner. But instead of having fun, she was buried by her beloved. For an already quite demanding period, she still had unpleasant problems when she and Vašíček’s family were suing for the inheritance of the late hockey player. She eventually left the lawsuit with several million.
In time, she found a new friend, hockey player Lukáš Lhoták. They have been with their partner for five years and at the end of last year they gave birth to a baby together. The boys were named Jakub. Jajtnerová thus experiences happy moments again, which make her forget about a difficult period.
Rachunkova was depressed
The widows of Karel Rachůnek and Jan Mark had a particularly difficult time. The daughter of the former and Mark’s son know fathers only from storytelling. Jan Marek did not even hug his son, who was born at the time. He wanted to welcome him to the world only after the season, which was never fulfilled due to the tragic himchildren.
Like Lucie Marková, Kateřina Rachůnková was there, who was left alone to raise Matýsek (13) and Kačenka (10). In addition, the daughter was born just before the tragedy, so she doesn’t have a chance to remember her father. Rachunkova bore the loss of her beloved partner very hard and for some time she was drowning in depression. She also overcame them thanks to Charles’ close friend and also hockey player Petr Vampol.
In the end, everything turned out well for Rachůnková. The friendship with Vampola grew into a love, from which the daughter Anička (5) emerged in 2016. Two years ago, Vampola asked Rachůnková for a hand, and both spouses live happily ever after.
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