EX-SPANISH footballer Pelayo Novo has died aged 32 after reportedly being hit by a train.
Novo had turned to wheelchair tennis five years ago after an horrific fall from the third-floor of his team’s hotel.
Spanish media said on Tuesday night the former second-tier midfielder was crushed to death by a train in Oviedo.
Novo was a second-tier midfielder for Elche, Cordoba, Lugo and Albacete – and also briefly turned out for Romanian side CFR Cluj
And tributes from past clubs, as well as teams he was connected with, have poured in.
Real Oviedo posted a message on Twitter.
It read: “With a broken heart. We deeply regret the death of Pelayo Novo, captain of our Foundation. Family, friends: we are with you. Rest in peace Pelayo.”
A statement from Cordoba read: “We deeply regret the death of our former player Pelayo Novo at the age of 32.
“He will always remain in the memory of the Cordobesistas, since a cross of his made us ‘touch the sky in Las Tendillas’.
Our sincere condolences to family and friends.”
Novo was 27 when he was seriously hurt after falling from Albacete’s team hotel in the North Eastern city of Huesca in March 2018.
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He spent 51 days in a Zaragoza hospital following that accident.
And when he was moved to the Toledo National Paraplegic Hospital he captured hearts with his attitude once he realised he’d never play football again.
He became an ambassador for professional and aspiring disabled athletes in his country.
Novo discovered a love for wheelchair tennis and eventually became a member of the board of directors of the Asturian Tennis Federation.
He was also an active player who entered competitions and played at the Open de Catalunya most recently.
Novo was seen as an inspiration for disabled sports people.
Talking about his accident, a few years ago he said: “The human being adapts to the circumstances that he has.
“It is logical that it takes time because there are times when it is bad.
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“I managed to get out of that and now I am having a great time.”
Now the world of Spanish sport is trying to comprehend his tragic death following a second horrifying incident.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
