CD Tenerife held a memorial service to honor striker Jesús de Miguel, who died at age 30 following a collision during a league match. The ceremony, held at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium, saw players, staff, and fans gather to mourn the professional footballer, according to reports from welt.de.
The mourning process follows a tragic incident on Monday during a home game against FC Andorra. De Miguel suffered severe injuries and a cardiac arrest during a collision with opposing goalkeeper Jesús Owono in stoppage time. He passed away in the hospital on Tuesday morning, welt.de reported.
Preliminary autopsy identifies chest injury as cause of death
A preliminary autopsy report has identified an “accident-related chest injury” as the cause of death, as reported by the Canary Islands newspaper Canarias7. The injury occurred during the late stages of the match when de Miguel collided with Owono.
The opposing goalkeeper expressed his distress regarding the event. “It is difficult for me to find words, and it is very difficult for me to even comprehend what happened,” Owono said, according to welt.de.
CD Tenerife players and fans hold 100-minute memorial service
The memorial service at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium lasted nearly 100 minutes. During the event, CD Tenerife players attended dressed entirely in black. A large banner featuring the portrait of the deceased player was displayed on the pitch behind the speakers, welt.de noted.
Club captain Enric Gallego delivered a speech from a stage on the grass, though he was frequently unable to continue due to emotion. Gallego repeatedly addressed de Miguel’s partner, María, and his daughter, Carla. His remarks drew standing ovations from those in attendance, welt.de reported.
Club president Felipe Miñambres also addressed the crowd, with his voice faltering during the speech. The ceremony included a minute of silence and the playing of the club anthem, which moved many spectators to tears. Fans participated in the tribute by chanting de Miguel’s name throughout the service, welt.de reported.
The event drew high-profile figures from the Spanish football community, including former Real Madrid striker Emilio Butragueño, welt.de reported.
Prior services held in Toledo province
Before the stadium ceremony on Tenerife, a separate funeral service took place on Thursday in Navahermosa, located in the province of Toledo southwest of Madrid. That service was attended by family, friends, and various representatives of Spanish football to bid farewell to the attacker, according to welt.de.
Frequently asked questions regarding the passing of Jesús de Miguel
What were the circumstances of Jesús de Miguel’s injury?
The injury occurred during stoppage time of a league match between CD Tenerife and FC Andorra. De Miguel collided with the opposing goalkeeper, Jesús Owono, resulting in severe injuries and a cardiac arrest, welt.de reported.
What was the official cause of death?
According to a preliminary autopsy report cited by the newspaper Canarias7, the cause of death was an “accident-related chest injury.”
Where was the primary memorial service held?
The main tribute for the player and the team was held at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium in Tenerife, following an earlier service in Navahermosa, Toledo.
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