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12th Dec 2016

Chapecoense crash survivor will return to Brazil today

Goalkeeper Follmann will be accompanied by medical staff.

Tom Victor

Jakson Follmann, the goalkeeper who survived the plane crash in which 19 of his Chapecoense teammates lost their lives, is due to return to Brazil today.

More than 70 people were killed in the crash just outside Medellín in Colombia, while Follmann had a leg amputated and has been receiving medical attention before returning to his home country.

He was due to leave Colombia at 3pm Brasilia time, or 5pm UK time, according to the Chapecoense website.

‘The athlete will be accompanied by a medical team from the aircraft responsible for the transfer, as well as the club doctor, Marcos Sonaglio, and a relative,’ a statement from the club reads.

Sao Paulo v Santa Cruz - Brasileirao Series A 2016Friedemann Vogel/Getty Images

The tragedy took place when Chapecoense were flying out for the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana, and the club have since been confirmed as champions of the competition, partially at the request of opponents Atlético Nacional.

Another of Follmann’s former teammates, fellow goalkeeper Nivaldo, announced his retirement from football in the light of the crash. Follmann was forced to retire from his injuries.

Tributes have continued to pour in, while Chape have announced a new managerial team as they aim to ‘reestablish joy’ for their fans after the events of the last fortnight.