Soccer plane crash survivor says he and other survivors are doing well in hospital

Record ID: 76597

  • Title: Soccer plane crash survivor says he and other survivors are doing well in hospital
  • Date: 10th December 2016
  • Summary: LA UNION, ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA (FILE - NOVEMBER 29, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WRECKAGE OF AEROPLANE IN COLOMBIAN JUNGLE RESCUE WORKERS RECOVERING BODIES
  • Embargoed: 25th December 2016 19:47
  • Keywords: Colombia Brazil crash Chapeco Chapecoense soccer survivors Rafael Henzel
  • Location: RIONEGRO AND LA UNION, ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA
  • City: RIONEGRO AND LA UNION, ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA
  • Country: Brazil
  • Reuters ID: LVA0035CAW953
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:One of the six survivors from the soccer plane crash that killed 71 people last month sent a message from the Colombian hospital where he and three Chapecoense soccer players are being treated saying they are all "going strong".
    Rafael Henzel, the Brazilian journalist who survived the crash that killed almost the entire Chapecoense soccer team, thanked the people of Colombia and Brazil for their support and said he and the three Chapecoense players who also survived are looking to go home soon.
    "It's our thirteenth day in Colombia. We're going strong in our recovery. I want to give a special thank you to all of the Colombian people who have been strong behind us throughout this tragedy, but solidarity has sprouted up in everyone's hearts and today we are very close to heading home. I also want to thank all the Brazilians, who in a prayer chain, were the 'Chape strength'. And also, me and the players here, Follmann, Neto, and Alan Ruschel, we are all going strong and recovering here so we can go home as soon as possible," Henzel said in a video released by Colombia's San Vicente Fundacion Hospital where he and the three players are being treated.
    Henzel, who suffered serve trauma to his thorax and fractured a leg, said he has left the intensive care unit and is doing well in his hospital room.
    "I've left the ICU for the semi-intensive (unit), and now I'm in my room happy about my recovery and also the solidarity from the people of Colombian and the prayers from the Brazilian people," he added.
    Henzel was one of six survivors rescued from the BAe 146 that slammed into a Colombian mountain after reportedly running out of gas and suffering electric problems.
    Seventy-one people, including most Chapecoense players, trainers and coaches, died in the tragedy.
    Chapecoense defender Alan Ruschel, goalkeeper Jackson Follmann and defender Helio Neto were also recovering at the hospital.
    Two Bolivian crew members from the LaMia airline also survived the accident.
    Bolivian authorities have suspended LaMia's license and detained its chief executive as well as his son who is a former official with Bolivia's aviation authority.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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