Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel died from "accidental thoracic trauma," according to the preliminary autopsy report, after a collision during a match against FC Andorra. The 97th-minute incident in a LaLiga Hypermotion clash on Monday evening left the forward in cardiac arrest, and he passed away on Tuesday morning.
Collision and Immediate Aftermath
De Miguel was sprinting towards the ball when Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono rushed out of his area and attempted to clear, striking his opponent heavily in the chest. Owono was sent off, and De Miguel was treated on the field but soon went into cardiac arrest. He was taken by ambulance to Hospital Universitario de Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, where he was initially stabilised but died at 8am on Tuesday.
Forensic Findings and Investigation
According to local sources Canarias7 and El Dia, the Institute of Forensic Medicine found that De Miguel died from "accidental thoracic trauma." The preliminary forensic report was submitted on Wednesday morning to Magistrate Eva Esther Juarez Fernandez, who is presiding over the investigative division court overseeing the investigation. Results from further tests, such as toxicology reports, are still pending.
Any death "not resulting from natural causes" automatically triggers a judicial investigation, leading homicide officers in Tenerife to launch a probe. The investigation will also consider the medical response, including whether De Miguel was given oxygen on the pitch, whether a defibrillator was used, and issues around the assistance he received during his ambulance transfer. Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui said that criminal proceedings against Owono are, however, "very unlikely."
Tributes and Funeral
Tributes and condolences have poured in across Spanish football. The Tenerife first team, coaching staff, and club management will attend De Miguel's funeral in Navahermosa, a village in the province of Toledo, Spain, on Thursday.
Owono broke his silence on Wednesday, saying: "These are the most difficult days of my life. I am struggling to find the words and find it very difficult to assimilate anything that has happened. I feel an enormous pain for the loss of Jesus. I think of him, his family and everyone who loved him. I know there will be many issues to address; I will face whatever comes with the utmost respect. But right now, honestly, I cannot think of anything else except Jesus and the pain we are experiencing. Rest in peace, Jesus."
