Skip to content

Father of Chapecoense goalkeeper: 'Miracle of God' my son survived plane crash

Action Images

The father of Chapecoense goalkeeper Jackson Follmann - one of six to escape a fatal plane crash in Colombia - described his son's survival as a "miracle of God" in an interview late Tuesday night.

Follmann was admitted to Hospital San Vicente Fundacion de Rionegro for treatment after emerging from the tragedy that took the lives of 71 people.

Related: Plane carrying a Brazilian soccer club crashes in Colombia; 71 dead

Paulo Follmann expressed his disbelief in an interview with the Associated Press.

"The chances of surviving an airplane crash are practically zero. That my son is one of the survivors is a miracle of God," said Follmann.

"We have not spoken to him or received any other information regarding how serious his condition is. That is making us feel anguished."

The hospital said in a statement the 24-year-old had his right leg amputated as a result of the injuries he sustained upon impact.

Chapecoense was on its way to Medellin for the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana - the latest achievement in a fairy-tale rise from the lower tiers of Brazilian football.

Teammates Alan Ruschel and Helio Zampier were identified among the small group of survivors, along with crew members Ximena Suarez and Erwin Tumiri, and journalist Rafael Vamorbida.

Related: Brazil declares 3 days of mourning following Chapecoense disaster

Ruschel was scheduled for an operation on his limbs and spine earlier in the day, while Zampier was listed in stable condition.

Colombian authorities reduced the death toll to 71 from 75 after discovering four people didn't board the flight.

None of the four were players for Chapecoense, according to AP.

Local officials also counted 21 of the dead as reporters who had been covering the team's remarkable ascent from the fourth division to the final of South America's second-tier competition. The media group included anyone from cameramen to commentators and photographers for organizations like Fox and Brazilian outlet Globo.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox