Emiliano Sala died of 'head and trunk injuries', inquest told

Argentine footballer's plane crashed while flying from France to Wales, where he had completed a club record move to Cardiff City

Nantes supporters gather in Nantes after it was announced that the plane Argentinian forward Emiliano Sala was flying on vanished. AFP

People hold a vigil for missing former Nantes player Emiliano Sala. EPA

Nantes supporters gather in Nantes. AFP

Nantes supporters gather and light candles over an Argentinian flag. AFP

Nantes fans hold up club scarves during a gathering. AFP

Nantes supporters lay flowers. AFP

The 28-year-old Argentine striker is one of two people still missing after contact was lost with the light aircraft. AFP

Nantes supporters light flares during the gathering. AFP

Nantes supporters lay flowers. AFP

Sala was on his way to the Welsh capital to train with his new teammates for the first time after completing a move to Cardiff City. AFP

A Nantes supporter adds to the collection of flowers. AFP

Club Atletico Social San Martin President Daniel Rivero holds a Nantes team jersey that was given to the club by Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala. AP Photo

A view of the "Club Atletico y Social San Martin" where Emiliano Sala played soccer when he was young, in Progreso, Santa Fe province, Argentina. AFP

A view of the "Club Atletico y Social San Martin" where Emiliano Sala played soccer when he was young, in Progreso, Santa Fe province, Argentina. AFP

Horacio Sala, father of Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala, stands outside his home in Progreso, Argentina. AP Photo

Horacio Sala, father of Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala, and his partner Carina Mercedes Taffarel embrace outside their home in Progreso, Argentina. AP Photo

Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala died of "head and trunk injuries", an inquest in England heard Monday as it began to examine his death in a plane crash in the sea.

Sala, 28, had signed for Premier League side Cardiff City and was flying to his new team from his old club Nantes in France when his plane went missing over the Channel on January 21.

The wreckage was located on the seabed. The striker's body was recovered but pilot David Ibbotson is still missing. The plane remains under the sea.

In a brief hearing in Bournemouth on the south coast, an inquest into Sala's death was opened, and adjourned until November 6 pending further inquiries.

The post-mortem presented at the hearing gave Sala's cause of death as "head and trunk injuries".

Sala was formally identified by fingerprints.

In English law, inquests are held to examine sudden or unexplained deaths.

They set out to determine the identity of the deceased, the place and time of death as well as how the deceased came by their death, but they do not apportion blame.

Senior coroner's officer Ian Parry told the hearing that the plane "was located on the seabed in international waters.

"Following a closer examination of the site a body, later identified as Mr Sala, was found and recovered.

"To date the pilot, Mr Ibbotson, has not been found.

"Police, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and the Civil Aviation Authority are continuing with their inquiries," he said.

A fundraising campaign to restart the search for Ibbotson is already more than half way to its £300,000 (Dh1.42m) target.

"If you've got hope then you shouldn't give up," his daughter Danielle told ITV television. "He wouldn't stop searching for me."

Nantes gave a final rousing send off to Sala with a series of moving gestures in their Ligue 1 match against Nimes on Sunday.

Known as the Canaries due to their yellow kit, Nantes played in a one-off full black outfit with Sala's name on the back of each shirt.

Tickets for the game were sold at a symbolic €9 in memory of the player's shirt number, which they have also withdrawn.

Before Saturday's Premier League match between Southampton and visitors Cardiff, a minute's silence was observed.