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Dorset Police have confirmed the body recovered from the English Channel was that of Emiliano Sala.
The footballer died after the plane he was travelling in ditched into the sea north west of Alderney more than two weeks ago.
The light aircraft was being flown by private pilot Dave Ibbotson. He is still missing.
The two men were flying from Nantes to Cardiff so the footballer could start his premier league career with the Welsh club, after signing for a record £15million fee.
Pictured: The plane that pilot Dave Ibbotson and footballer Emiliano Sala had been travelling in was found lying on the sea bed north west of Alderney.
The Piper Malibu aircraft lost contact with Air Traffic Control after flying past Jersey and disappeared off radar near Les Casquets. A three day search and rescue mission co-ordinated by Guernsey Coastguard was called off, before a privately funded search and recovery mission was launched by 'shipwreck hunter' David Mearns.
That was paid for through a Go Fund Me account which raised more than £300,000 in days.
Mr Mearns spent more than a week in Guernsey with the Sala family and has paid his respects to Emiliano and his family now their worst fears have been confirmed.
Rest in Peace Emiliano. I was glad to provide some small comfort to Romina, Mercedes and the whole Sala family during the past two weeks but my heart goes out to the family and friends of David Ibbotson whose loss is the same. "Emiliano Sala" pic.twitter.com/FNLdYjE7M1
— David Mearns (@davidlmearns) February 8, 2019
Mr Mearns helped find Mr Sala's body after his crew worked alongside the Air Accident Investigation Board which had also launched its own official enquiries into the missing plane and men.
Two vessels, organised by the AAIB and Mr Means, both searched an area of 2sq nautical miles last weekend after the experts had managed to narrow down the potential area that the plane could have entered the water.
The wreck of the plane was found within hours and the AAIB later confirmed one body had been found on the wreckage. Recovery efforts were hampered by bad weather meaning that although the body could be recovered and taken to the UK for forensic tests, the fuselage of the plane remains on the sea bed where it landed.
#Update The body brought to Portland Port today has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala.
— Dorset Police (@dorsetpolice) February 7, 2019
The families of Mr Sala and pilot David Ibbotson have been updated. Our thoughts remain with them all
https://t.co/YpVTvaEt7P
In a statement, Dorset Police said the families of both men had been told.
"The families of Mr Sala and the pilot David Ibbotson have been updated with this news and will continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers. Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.
"HM Coroner will continue to investigate the circumstances of this death supported by Dorset Police."
The AAIB is also still investigating the cause of the crash, with an interim report due out by the end of this month.
Pictured: Emiliano Sala.
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