He went missing on the night of Monday January 21
The plane carrying Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala has been found.
An official rescue operation was called off by Guernsey Police after 24 hours of extensive searching in the English Channel, but a GoFundMe page raised enough money to fund a private search for the missing persons.
The aircraft was found on the bed of the English channel and a UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch vessel remains in the area.
https://twitter.com/davidlmearns/status/1092170007268769792
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When Guernsey Police
called off the official search, Harbour Master Captain David Barker said that they had "reviewed all the information to us, as well as knowing what emergency equipment was on board, and have taken the difficult decision to end the search."
"The chances of survival at this stage are extremely remote," they added.
Sala's
family then started a
GoFundMe page to raise enough money to fund a private search operation. Several famous footballers, including Adrien Rabiot, Gonzalo Higuain and Ilkay Gundogan donated to the cause.
Both Sala and Ibbotson are missing, presumed dead, at this stage.
The Argentine had just signed for Cardiff City, a record £15 million transfer, and was travelling from previous club Nantes to Wales.
Two vessels searched for the wreckage in an area about 24 miles north of Guernsey. Sonar identified something on the sea bed and after several passes, David Mearns' team positively identified the aircraft.
