The family of Spanish footballer Jesus de Miguel have described the "impossible void" left by his death as hundreds of mourners gathered for his funeral in his home village of Navahermosa, in the province of Toledo, on Thursday.
De Miguel, a 30-year-old striker for Tenerife, died on Tuesday morning after a collision with goalkeeper Jesus Owono during the Spanish second-division match against FC Andorra on Monday night. The preliminary post-mortem examination identified "accidental thoracic trauma" as the cause of death, according to Spanish outlets Canarias7 and El Dia.
Mourners pay their respects
Family members, friends, team-mates and leading figures from Spanish football attended the funeral, including Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, Spain's national team coach Luis de la Fuente and Atletico Madrid chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin. A public viewing was also arranged outside the funeral home to accommodate those unable to get inside for the ceremony.
Speaking on behalf of the family, spokesperson Manuel Hernandez said: "Jesus leaves a void impossible to fill, but also an immense memory in all of us who have been lucky enough to share our lives with him."
"Thank you to everyone who has remembered him, to his team-mates, friends, fans and all the clubs who have wanted to convey their condolences and accompany us in this painful moment. Feeling such love for Jesus and witnessing the impact he has had on so many people is something we will always carry with us."
Collision details and aftermath
The collision occurred in the 97th minute of Monday night's LaLiga Hypermotion fixture when De Miguel raced towards the ball as Andorra goalkeeper Owono rushed out to clear it. Owono struck De Miguel heavily in the chest, and the striker received urgent medical attention on the pitch before suffering cardiac arrest. He was taken by ambulance to Hospital Universitario de Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, where he was initially stabilised, but his condition deteriorated overnight and he died at around 8am on Tuesday.
The preliminary findings were submitted to magistrate Eva Esther Juarez Fernandez on Wednesday, although further tests, including toxicology results, remain outstanding as part of the investigation. A judicial investigation has been launched, with authorities examining the circumstances surrounding De Miguel's death, including the medical response. However, Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui has indicated that criminal proceedings against Owono are "very unlikely".
Family and team-mates react
De Miguel's girlfriend Maria and their young daughter Carla, who is just over a year old, were at the stadium when the collision occurred. His close friend Fernando Roman, who plays for Spanish club Talavera, said Maria had initially been alone at the hospital before De Miguel's parents arrived after travelling from their home in Navahermosa.
Speaking to Spanish television programme Vamos a Ver, Roman said: "I've spoken with his girlfriend, and you can imagine how she is. Now we have to be with the family. We have to send our love to his family, to María, to his daughter Carla, who is a year and a few months old. It was unbelievable because we were talking about traveling to Disney with the girls, with my daughter too, and look what's happened."
It has also emerged that De Miguel's father was watching the match on television at his bar in Navahermosa when the collision happened. A neighbour told Spanish television programme Y ahora Sonsoles that he immediately recognised the seriousness of the incident and "started crying" before arranging for the family to travel to Tenerife.
Goalkeeper Owono broke his silence on Wednesday with an emotional statement expressing his devastation at the loss of his fellow professional. "These are the most difficult days of my life," he said in a statement released by FC Andorra. "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."
Monday's match was abandoned following the incident, while the Royal Spanish Football Federation suspended fixtures until Friday as a mark of respect. For De Miguel's family and those closest to him, Thursday's funeral provided an opportunity to say goodbye to a much-loved son, partner, father and friend whose life was cut tragically short.
